You know that feeling when you finish a book series and just… stare at a wall? That’s basically the entire Harry Potter fandom after 2007. We were all desperate for more, especially about the generation that actually started it all. Then, back in 2016, a small indie team dropped Severus Snape and the Marauders, and honestly, the internet kinda lost its collective mind.
It wasn't a big-budget Warner Bros. production. There was no CGI budget the size of a small country's GDP. Yet, this 25-minute short film managed to capture something the official prequels often missed.
It felt raw.
If you haven’t seen it, the premise is simple but heavy. It’s 1978. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew have just graduated from Hogwarts. They’re sitting in a bar—The Black Boar—toasting to the future. But there’s a war brewing outside. In walks Severus Snape, looking for Lily Evans.
What follows is basically a magical bar fight that escalates into a full-on showdown in the woods.
The Duel That Defined a Fandom
One of the biggest reasons Severus Snape and the Marauders went viral (it’s sitting at over 13 million views on YouTube now) is the choreography. Most fan films feel a bit "kids playing with sticks in the backyard," but director Justin Zagri and his team at Broad Strokes Productions went for a professional vibe.
They didn't just throw sparks. They used actual fencing backgrounds to ground the wand movements.
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Kevin Allen, who played Sirius Black, actually had a background in fencing and helped develop the battle scenes. It shows. When the spells start flying, it’s not just "Expelliarmus" on repeat. We see Crucio, Sectumsempra, and even Fiendfyre.
Wait, Fiendfyre?
Yeah, that’s where some fans get a bit prickly. In the film, the Marauders use some pretty dark magic against Snape. Hardcore lore-buffs will tell you that the Marauders hated the Dark Arts and probably wouldn't touch Fiendfyre with a ten-foot broomstick. But for the sake of a high-stakes cinematic duel, it makes for one hell of a visual.
Who was behind the masks?
The casting was surprisingly spot-on for an indie project.
- Mick Ignis (now Morgana Ignis) played Snape with this haunting, gaunt intensity that felt like a younger version of Alan Rickman’s iconic portrayal.
- Garrett Schweighauser brought a version of James Potter that was—let’s be real—kinda a jerk.
- Dani Jae as Lily Evans had the difficult task of being the emotional anchor in a story filled with testosterone and ego.
Why the Story Matters (Even if it’s Non-Canon)
Let's address the Hippogriff in the room: this isn't official. J.K. Rowling didn't write it. Warner Bros. didn't fund it.
But does that matter?
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The film tackles the "bully vs. victim" debate that has split the fandom for decades. Is Snape a tragic hero or a bitter Death Eater in training? Is James a courageous leader or a schoolyard bully who never grew up?
The movie doesn’t really take sides. It shows the Marauders being arrogant and cruel, but it also shows Snape’s own descent into darkness. It frames the conflict through Snape’s memories, which he’s technically "showing" to Lord Voldemort.
Interestingly, the film suggests the rivalry wasn’t just about Lily. It was about power. It was about belonging. James had the popularity and the "cool" factor; Snape had the raw, dark talent. When they clash in the forest, it feels less like a school rivalry and more like a precursor to the First Wizarding War.
Production Secrets from the Set
Making a film like this on an Indiegogo budget ($39,000 to be exact) is basically its own form of magic.
They filmed at The Black Boar in Los Angeles—which, fun fact, is the same bar used in The Office. They had to deal with a literal torrential downpour on their final day of shooting in Santa Clarita. In Southern California, that’s basically a sign from the universe.
Instead of quitting, they leaned into the gloom.
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The visual effects took over a year to complete. If you look closely at the paintings in the background of the bar, they actually move. The team snuck in cameos of the actors from their previous fan film, The Greater Good (about Dumbledore and Grindelwald). Even the Parseltongue whispered when Voldemort appears was carefully crafted—they wrote actual phrases and had the voice actor speak them backward to get 그 eerie, distorted sound.
Is it worth the watch in 2026?
Honestly? Yes.
Even though we’ve had Fantastic Beasts and endless rumors of a Marauders HBO series, this fan film remains a benchmark for what "passionate creators" can do. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It’s 25 minutes of high-intensity magic that respects the source material while taking its own swings.
It’s not perfect. Some of the dialogue is a little on the nose. The power levels are definitely "buffed" for cinematic effect—Snape holding his own against all four Marauders simultaneously is a bit of a stretch if we’re going strictly by book logic.
But as a piece of "what if" storytelling? It’s gold.
Actionable insights for fans
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this specific corner of the Wizarding World, here is what you should do next:
- Watch the Director’s Commentary: Justin Zagri released a full commentary track on SoundCloud that explains how they pulled off the VFX on a shoestring budget.
- Check out "The Great Wizarding War": The same team created a 12-part audio drama that continues the story right where the film ends. It features the same voice cast and expands on the Order of the Phoenix’s early days.
- Support Fan Creators: Most of these projects are non-profit due to copyright laws. If you like the work, follow the actors and crew on social media—many of them, like Mick Ignis, have gone on to do incredible work in the sci-fi and horror genres.
The legacy of Severus Snape and the Marauders isn't just about the 2016 release. It’s about the fact that ten years later, fans are still arguing about that bar fight. It proved that the "Marauders Era" has enough drama and conflict to fuel a dozen movies, if only the big studios would listen to the fans.