Harry Potter fan fiction turned novel 'Alchemised' secures $3M movie deal with Legendary

A novel that began life as Harry Potter fan fiction has secured a major Hollywood deal. Legendary has agreed to pay a reported seven-figure sum for the rights to Alchemised, the dark fantasy novel by acclaimed fan fiction writer SenLinYu.

SenLinYu, also known as Sen, rose to prominence in the fan fiction community with works exploring the “Dramione” pairing of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Their widely read novel Manacled, a dystopian reimagining influenced by The Handmaid’s Tale, amassed more than 10 million views on AO3 in 2023.

In a statement, Sen expressed excitement about the project’s future, “I’m honoured by Legendary’s incredible enthusiasm for the project and can’t wait to see the world of Paladia come to life.” Industry sources suggest the deal may exceed $3 million, making it the biggest ever book-to-film acquisition in recent years.

Alchemised tells the story of Helena, an alchemist piecing together fractured memories of her role in a defeated Resistance movement within a war-torn fantasy realm. Its origins in fan fiction have not stopped it from being recognised as a fully-fledged novel, now set to transition to the screen.

This development highlights the growing influence of fan fiction in mainstream entertainment. Earlier examples include the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, which began as Twilight fan fiction, and recent projects such as The Idea of You and The Love Hypothesis.

For fans, Alchemised represents a significant shift: a work born from Harry Potter fandom now has the potential to rival the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series. It signals a new era in which fan fiction writers can achieve both commercial and critical recognition.