Fans rank 'Harry Potter' spin-offs

(Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)

With the first part of the finale of the 'Harry Potter' series in cinemas, the most successful film franchise looks to be coming closer to an end. The burning question has been whether J.K. Rowling will write more Potter books or if there will be a spin-off with another character.

Though Rowling previously claimed she was done writing Harry Potter stories, more recently she said she's not adverse to writing more of his books, as Collider reported, but it appears most likely to focus on a character other than Harry.

Rowling suggested the possibility of writing new Harry Potter books in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying, "I'm not going to say I won't. I don't think I will ... I feel I am done, but you never know."

So Fandango, an online movie ticket retailer in the US, polled 1,000 Potter ticket-buyers who conveyed who they would like to see carry on the world of wizardry. A total of 44% chose Rhys Ifans (Xenophillius Lovegood) as the new Potter performer they're most looking forward to seeing on the big screen.

In a close second place with 40% of the vote was Artemis Fowl, an upcoming film based on Eoin Colfer's books, as a possible successor to the Potter films on the big screen.

Runners-up for who might pick up where Harry Potter left off, spin-off or otherwise, included: Nicholas Flamel (Harry Potter character) at 24%, The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins' book series) at 10%, Bartimaeus (novels by Jonathan Stroud) at 9%, Vampire Academy (romance series by Richelle Mead) at 5%, The Sisters Grimm (fantasy series written by Michael Buckley) at 5%, and Uglies (sci-fi novel by Scott Westerfeld) at 4%.

If the retired Shrek is spinning off the Puss in Boots character in an upcoming film, it seems likely that the film studio would want to continue the unprecedented success with the Harry Potter franchise. To date, more than 400 million copies of the Harry Potter books have been sold.

Of course, there are also the stories of Tales of Beedle the Bard, written and illustrated by Rowling and mentioned in the Deathly Hallows book. It remains to be seen if she has another series available for the men.

In the meantime, fans will be content waiting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, coming in 3D to cinemas on July 15, 2011.

RC