Some fascinating and perhaps shocking news for Harry Potter fans — a book developed from what was originally a Harry Potter fan fiction has gotten a movie deal for a mᴀssive price. Controversial Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has historically been supportive of fan fiction utilizing her characters, as the books were adapted into a $9 billion movie franchise, now to be rebooted as an HBO TV show.

Now, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Legendary has agreed to a seven-figure movie deal for SenLinYu’s dark fantasy novel Alchemised, which started out as a “Dramione” (Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger) fan fiction. SenLiuYu said in a statement: “I’m honored by Legendary’s incredible enthusiasm for the project and can’t wait to see the world of Paladia come to life.“

SenLinYu (also referred to as Sen) is a well-known and award-winning writer in the fan fiction space. They have written several popular works, especially featuring the Dramione romantic pairing. Their 2023 fan fiction novel Manacled, a crossover between Harry Potter and The Handmaid’s Tale, achieved more than 10 million views on the AO3 platform.

Alchemised follows alchemist Helena, who is trying to fill in the gaps in memory about the defeated Resistance movement she was a part of in a war-torn fantasy world. A source tells THR that Legendary’s deal with Sen may exceed $3 million; another says that it may be one of the highest payments ever for a book movie’s rights (not adjusted for inflation).

What Alchemised’s Movie Deal Means For Harry Potter & Fan Fiction Adaptations

Works that were originally fan fiction have been gaining traction in Hollywood — a particularly famous example is the 2010s movie trilogy adaptation of E. L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey, which originated as a Twilight fic — but the trend has more perceptibly taken off in the 2020s. The success of the somewhat fan fiction-reminiscent The Idea of You and the in-development Love Hypothesis movie primarily signal this.

Alchemised is another major development in how fan fiction writers are being taken more seriously and seeing commercial returns for their work, as well as how the industry meets the growing demand for entertainment that feels like fan fiction. Alchemised may also prove to be a challenger to the new Harry Potter TV show, offering a fresher take on some of the core concepts.

Our Take On Alchemised’s Movie Adaptation

There is reason to be cautious about the growing influence of fan fiction on the entertainment industry, as it may discourage creators and consumers from investing in more rigorous materials. However, fan fiction is still an outlet of reinterpretation that can result in largely original stories, though it may borrow certain characteristics and aesthetics, which much “original” fiction does anyway.

And, frankly, when the forthcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation looks to be a visually identical remake, only with some extra book scenes added in, there is an argument that a work that engages the story and readers/viewers by doing something different does have more to offer. We don’t know yet what kind of success Alchemised can expect, but it could be a game-changer.