People Think 'Avengers: Infinity War' Stole Ideas From 'Harry Potter,' And Wow, Really?

People Think 'Avengers: Infinity War' Stole Ideas From 'Harry Potter,' And Wow, Really?

It's been nearly a week, and I still can't stop thinking about Avengers: Infinity War. 

Aside from a few minor issues — erm, thought Thor didn't need a weapon, but OK — I absolutely loved the action-crammed adventure. 

Speaking of adventures, I also consider myself to be a Harry Potter fan, which is why I'm especially disappointed to see the two fandoms being pinned against each other.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

That's right, Marvel fans. Potterheads are coming for you.

Apparently, there's a popular opinion on the internet that says Infinity War ripped off Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (both parts)!

Being a loyal enthusiast of both fandoms, I feel as though I can, in the fairest way possible, dismantle that argument.

1. Voldemort's death.

After Harry defeats Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, the Dark Lord literally combusts and blows away in a cloud of ash.

It's pretty nasty, but at least there's no cleanup.

You know who else turns into a billow of powdery residue? UH, LIKE 50% OF THE UNIVERSE IN INFINITY WAR. 

It was probably the most distressing four minutes in the history of the MCU.

Are these two crumbly concepts similar? Sure. Realistically, though, people have been getting vaporized in popular culture since aliens were given laser guns and the threat of nuclear war became plausible.

This whole self-combustion thing is just a variation on a classic way to perish.

2. The Deathly Hallows in Harry Potter.

The Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility are three magical objects that, when possessed by a single wizard, make him the most powerful being in the world.

Similarly, whoever possess all six Infinity Stones becomes the most powerful being in the Marvel Universe.

However, the theory that Infinity War lifted this idea from Harry Potter can be easily debunked by the simple fact that the infinity stones were written about in as early as 1972.

Sorry, Potterheads — Thanos did it first.

3. When Harry dies for a sec and finds himself with Dumbledore in some kind of afterlife zone.

During this scene, Harry and Dumbledore casually stroll past a piece of Voldemort's soul, which sort of looks like a newborn child...that is, if that child was birthed from the womb of hell itself.

Point is, this location, wherever it is, might be a place where souls reside.

Thanos also visits what appears to be a soul realm near the end of Infinity War.

After Thanos vaporizes half of all existence, he meets Gamora (WHO HE MURDERED, BTW!!!) in the orange-tinted Soulworld. The concept of this world appeared in the Marvel comics as early as 1977.

So, yes, both movies have a sort of in-between place. But this concept has been around, theologically speaking, for, like, ever.

4. The Dementors in Harry Potter.

Dementors are shadowy non-beings who feed on the despair of humans. Between their dark robes and skeletal bodies, Dementors are the sort of creatures nightmares are made of. 

PS. They will consume your soul like an afternoon snack.

Much to everyone's surprise, there was also a skeleton wearing a dark robe in Infinity War.

I'm talking about Red Skull, of course. We find him on the planet Vormir, living out his days as the guardian of the Soul Stone.

Sure, both movies have skeletons in robes. And both of them are related to souls in some way. But come on! Skeletons have been the embodiment of death and evil for centuries.  

There are pages upon pages of skeleton-like villains out there — many of them in robes, 'cause it gets chilly when you're just made of bones.

5. Oh, and I'd like to stop anyone before they even ATTEMPT to mention the Time-Turner in the Prisoner of Azkaban. 

For those people, I say that reversing time has and always will be a screenplay writer's most powerful cop-out, right next to, "It was all a dream." 

Infinity War, Harry Potter, and seven billion other stories involve playing with time.

There was one Harry Potter reference in Infinity War, though.

In the English version of the movie, Tony Stark taunts Ebony Maw by calling him Squidward. 

Apparently, that insult didn't translate very well into French, so in the francophone version, Tony compares Ebony Maw to Lord Voldemort.

And, honestly, I wish they had gone with that line in the original version, 'cause it's spot-on.

Ultimately, the idea that Infinity War directly copied Harry Potter is a pretty big stretch. 

Anyway, we're talking about two major Hollywood movies. At the risk of sounding cynical, most blockbusters recycle the same tropes because those are what mass audiences want to see.

Of course, the best stories have moments that defy our expectations. Say, for example, Snape being a good guy or half of our heroes turning into dust.

Do you think Avengers: Infinity War copied Harry Potter? Let us know in the comments!