Fandom Blends with Pop Culture as Fan Fiction Goes Mainstream

Heated Rivalry and Harry Potter spin-offs show the growing crossover between fan communities and traditional media

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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This article explores how fan culture has become increasingly integrated into mainstream pop culture in recent years, with fan fiction-inspired works like Heated Rivalry and Dramione stories from the Harry Potter universe being adapted into officially published novels and films. The article discusses the controversy around these adaptations, the growth of fan communities online during the pandemic, and the shifting media landscape as publishers embrace fan-driven content.

Why it matters

The blending of fan culture and mainstream media represents a significant shift in how stories and creative works are produced and consumed. While fan fiction has historically existed in semi-underground spaces, the increasing prominence of fan-inspired adaptations raises questions about the boundaries between amateur and professional writing, the representation of marginalized fan communities, and the commercialization of grassroots creative expression.

The details

The article highlights several examples of fan fiction-inspired works that have crossed over into mainstream media, including the hockey romance Heated Rivalry, which sparked discussions about queer representation and the role of female fans, as well as the surge in popularity of 'Dramione' fan fiction from the Harry Potter universe. Many of these fan-driven stories have been adapted into traditionally published novels, with some authors choosing to maintain their online pseudonyms rather than using their legal names. The success of these adaptations, such as the 750,000 copy first printing of the Dramione novel Alchemised, demonstrates the commercial viability of fan-inspired content.

  • In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people online, leading to a surge in fan community growth and the discovery of fan fiction.
  • On February 23, 2026, the article 'Girls Who Love Boys Who Love Boys' was published on Vulture and New York Magazine, focusing on the cultural phenomenon of Heated Rivalry.
  • Since the pandemic began in 2020, nearly 50,000 stories about the Sirius and Remus pairing from the Harry Potter Marauders universe have been posted on Archive of Our Own.
  • Over the past six years, more than 36,000 'Dramione' fan fiction stories (pairing Draco and Hermione) have been uploaded to Archive of Our Own.
  • 2025 has been dubbed 'The Year of Dramione' due to the publication of several traditionally published novels based on Dramione fan fiction, such as Alchemised, Rose in Chains, and The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy.

The players

Heated Rivalry

A show based on Rachel Reid's Game Changers series that follows the intimate relationship between hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.

The Marauders

A subsect of the Harry Potter fandom that focuses on the characters of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between Sirius and Remus.

'Dramione'

A popular pairing in the Harry Potter fandom that ships the characters of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, often exploring the romantic tension between the two enemies.

SenLinYu

The author of the popular Dramione fan fiction novel Alchemised, formerly titled Manacled, who chose to maintain their online pseudonym for the published work.

E. Alex Jung

A journalist who wrote the article 'Girls Who Love Boys Who Love Boys' for Vulture and New York Magazine, which included a link to a specific Heated Rivalry fan fiction without the author's permission.

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What they’re saying

“Fanfiction is most often on public websites that are available to anybody, but they don't usually escape these confined spaces.”

— E. Alex Jung, Journalist (Vulture and New York Magazine)

“The fanfiction author posted online that he was not consulted prior to publication, pushing the boundary of professional and amateur writing.”

— Unnamed, Heated Rivalry Fan Fiction Author (Vulture and New York Magazine)

“every time i remember this is based on a fanfiction about andrew garfield and jesse eisenberg post-the social network i get more excited to watch it. this is what media should be”

— trish (X)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The growing crossover between fan-driven content and mainstream media represents a significant shift in how stories and creative works are produced and consumed. While this trend offers more opportunities for diverse narratives and fan communities to gain recognition, it also raises questions about the boundaries between amateur and professional writing, the representation of marginalized fans, and the commercialization of grassroots creative expression.