It’s-a me, Voldemort! Learn about Nintendo’s failed bid for Harry Potter

By Will Fulton February 9, 2015

voldemort learn nintendos failed bid harry potter nintendo — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Way back in 1998, Nintendo of America developed a pitch to claim the exclusive rights to adapt the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, which had recently become a global phenomenon with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone. The preeminent gaming archaeologists at Unseen 64 have scrapped together what evidence remains of this potential alliance that could have reshaped pop culture as we know it.

According to a former artist who worked for Nintendo Software Technology at the time, news of the Harry Potter license’s impending sale prompted studio executives to halt work on three titles (Ridge Racer 64, Bionic Commando, and Crystalis) in order to focus efforts on developing the Potter pitch. The studio was split into two teams. The primary team focused on a pitch for a third-person adventure game. Meanwhile, a smaller group worked on a game based on the high-flying wizard sport of Quidditch. Nintendo Software Technology hoped to develop adaptations for Nintendo 64, Gameboy Advance, GameCube, and future platforms, coinciding with the release of each subsequent book in the series.

Rowling saw Nintendo’s pitch, but Unseen 64’s source reports that there was a disagreement about art style. Initially, the plan had been to use a Western cartoon style inspired by Thomas Taylor’s cover art for the first edition of the book. Eventually, studio management opted to push instead for a more Japanese, manga style, which caused friction within the team.

Nintendo’s proposal was unable to live up to the greater resources behind offers from companies like Universal and Disney. Nintendo could only offer its expertise in gaming, while larger media companies could offer film and television as well. Rowling ultimately sold the rights to Warner Bros. for a reported £1 million. Warner Bros. in turn brought in Electronic Arts to create video game adaptations of the series, starting with the multiplatform release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001.

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Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…

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