A new online TV series based on J K Rowling’s Harry Potter books is being developed by Warner Bros Discovery, which produced the film series starring Daniel Radcliffe as the famous wizard.
The details of the new TV series haven’t been released but J K Rowling is said to be involved.
Here’s what we know so far about the new show.
What will the series be based on?
There are seven books in the Harry Potter series and it is thought that each season of the TV series will be based on one of the books. This new format means the material from the books can be explored in greater depth, as opposed to being condensed into films. It could also result in a franchise that spans many years, but the details of the show are still being finalised, and have not yet been approved by J K Rowling.
As part of the deal, it is thought she would have a certain level of involvement in the series to ensure it is faithful to her material. However it is unlikely the author will be the main creator or showrunner.
Why is the new series being created?
Several years ago HBO Max and its parent company at the time, WarnerMedia, began exploring a possible Harry Potter TV series. Warner Bros Discovery might intend the series to form part of its new streaming strategy, which it is revealing to investors and the public on April 12. The streaming platform will combine HBO Max and Discovery+ into one, alongside its upcoming streaming content.
Warner Bros was the company behind the Harry Potter film series, which brought the books to the big screen between 2001 and 2011. The franchise was made up of eight films, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The eight films went on to generate approximately $7.7 billion at the global box office.
Since then, Warner Bros has produced multiple spin-off films based on the Harry Potter world; 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and last year’s Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
There is also a Broadway production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the video game Hogwarts Legacy.
But some previous fans of the Harry Potter franchise have said they will no longer support it so long as Rowling is involved, given her views on transgender rights.
