The Cult of Harry Potter:
Fans Succumb to the Throes of Withdrawal as the
Sixth Film is Pushed Back
Gods &
Empires Monthly (November Issue): Flip to page 56
There are two types of people in
this world: those who are obsessed with Harry Potter, and those who are not.
The level of fanaticism that the series of books and movies inspire in the
individuals that are receptive to them is so powerful that J.K. Rowling could
effectively rule the world if she so chose. No religion, philosophy, or
political ideology has come close to arousing a similar amount of enthusiasm
(with the only exception being perhaps the cult of Star Wars).
If you’ve ever been to the opening
screenings of any of the Harry Potter movies or attended the Midnight Magic
Parties at Borders to obtain a copy of the book at the earliest possible hour,
then you know what I’m talking about. Everywhere you look, there are circular
spectacles, wizard hats, robes, and brooms. Fans form lines that snake outside
the building and all the way around it as they eagerly chatter about esoteric
trivia and the more intricate plot developments of the books. If you study the
crowds carefully, you may even be able to pick out one or two individuals that
are hyperventilating or foaming at the mouth.
Not to say that I judge this in the
least. On the contrary, I’m right there alongside these obsessive maniacs in both
body and spirit, donning a long blonde wig, my radish earrings, and a
butterbeer cork necklace in my best portrayal of my favorite character, Luna
Lovegood. As an infatuated veteran of this world, I can’t help but express my
concern for the mental wellbeing of my fellow fans. J.K. Rowling has the entire
world more addicted to Harry Potter than any drug lord has ever had his slums
addicted to street drugs. Since 1998 up until 2005, at least one book or movie
had been coming out each year. We got our fix, and we managed to make it for
another year.
2006 was a difficult year for Harry
Potter fanatics. While both 2005 and 2007 saw the release of both a book and a film, the two year stretch between
these events was enough to stir fans into such a state of agitated and giddy
frenzy that it appeared as though someone had performed a mass rictusempra charm in those final months.
Although the simultaneous release of the fifth Harry Potter film and the final
book in 2007 was about as cathartic as finally finding God, that does not
necessarily mean that it will be any easier to go through another two-year dry
spell.
Fans all over the world had their
hearts set on the expected November 2008 release of the film “Harry Potter and
the Half-Blood Prince” and were more than a little crestfallen when it was
announced that this would be pushed all the way back to July 2009. Warner Bros.
has stated that the reason for this involved placing the movie in a slot that
is ideal for family viewing and some nonsense about the writer’s strike
affecting the readiness of other scripts. But I know what they’re really
saying: “The $938,468,864 that ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the
It’s infuriating and unacceptable,
and it instills in me the desire to swear off seeing the film in the theaters
out of spite. But alas, I am weak and would be doing myself more harm than the
world good. Luckily, J.K. Rowling will be throwing us a bone this December in
the form of “The Tales of Beedle the Bard.” Originally, the book was limited to
seven handmade, written, and illustrated books created by the author herself.
One version, the moonstone edition, was actually auctioned off for $3.98
million. However, Rowling announced that the book will become available to the
general public on December 4, 2008. This may make the long wait until next July
a bit more bearable.
Beyond the books and the movies, one
thing remains that may cause fans to ooze with more anticipation than ever
before: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This theme park will be located in
