Hermione Granger - The future of popular heroines?

The mega movie and book phenomenon, Harry Potter is set to release the next movie in the Harry Potter series. While a great many people go crazy for the series hero, Harry Potter, very few seem to realize that there is yet another popular hero, or should I say heroine, in the series.

Hermione Granger (played by Emma Watson in the movies) has become a very popular heroine to many school age girls. She plays a good foil to the Harry Potter character, with wit and flaws that make her both likable and sympathetic.

Many times in popular media, male characters play the main hero, or if a female lead is used, she is depicted as being a heroine based more on her looks than on her brains. In the wildly popular Harry Potter series, Harry Potter is the main lead. But, many young female readers have adopted his smart, ambitious and, more importantly, female friend, Hermione, as their idol in the series.

Hollywood and book publishers should take note of this trend. Hermione is not a pretty girl and nor it she meant to be. She is a smart girl. This fact has struck a cord with many female readers and viewers. This trend does translate into a financial gain for the movie makers and publishers. Replicas of Hermione's wand and Hermione costumes and clothing are hot sellers. Sales of Hermione merchandise far outstrips that of Harry's other sidekick, Ron Weasly.

As the Harry Potter series draws to an end, both on bookshelves and in theaters, it can only be hoped that popular media will take a good look at the popularity of his homely but intelligent female sidekick. It may be that they will find the next blockbuster is a she instead of a he.