Wizard news for Potter fans as JK Rowling ‘strikes TV deal’
ARE we about to see the dawn of a new era in the wizarding world of Harry Potter?
Rumours are rife in both London and Los Angeles that Warner Bros — which has a new boss after merging with Discovery in the spring — is closing in on a deal with J.k. Rowling over new filmed entertainment.
But my sources in London say that a deal was done at least six months ago and that writers are already toiling on a Potter-related TV series, most likely destined for Warner’s streaming service HBO. ‘The Potter spin- off is being talked about as a fact by people who work for HBO,’ I’m told.
Meanwhile, Hollywood is buzzing with rumours that Rowling is seriously eyeing up the possibility of starting another Potter film franchise, with the Fantastic Beasts series having lost some of its magic after three movies.
Suits at Warner Bros deny both stories and are reluctant to even confirm a meeting between boss David Zaslav and Rowling.
The company’s corporate spokesman refuses, rather aggressively, to comment on any ‘private meetings’ which Zaslav (known as ‘Zas’) may have had. All most peculiar, given that the ‘meeting’ would concern the largest asset Warner has — the intellectual property (IP) covering all things boy wizard — and would thus not really be personal at all. Rowling controls the Potter ‘IP’, and every decision has to come through her, whether it’s about merchandising, theme parks, video games or anything else.
Warner Bros would have to be blind not to want to follow the example of Disney, which has pumped out successful TV spinoff series from its Star Wars and Marvel film franchises including Loki, Obi-Wan kenobi, WandaVision, The Mandalorian, Ms Marvel and Moon knight.
The Potter franchise has huge value outside of filmed entertainment, with a Forbidden Forest experience about to open in New York, in addition to ones in Virginia and Cheshire. Next year will see the release of a Hogwarts Legacy video game.
It is a matter of record that Zas, a lawyer, set off on a listening tour after joining the company in April. In May, the Wall Street Journal profiled him and said he was planning to meet J.k. Rowling imminently. I’m told they did meet and it went well.
Last year, Warner Bros issued a mealy-mouthed response when the row over Rowling’s stance on trans rights first blew up.
Meanwhile the young cast of Potter, especially Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, made highly critical comments about her, prompting talk of a rift.
HOWEVER, after the changing of the guard, Warner Bros is now standing four square behind her. Rowling reacted with horror on Twitter to the stabbing of novelist Salman Rushdie last week — resulting in her receiving a death threat.
Warner’s statement ran: ‘Warner Bros Discovery strongly condemns the threats made against J.k. Rowling. We stand with her and all the authors, storytellers and creators who bravely express their creativity and opinions . . . the company strongly condemns any form of threat, violence or intimidation when opinions, beliefs and thoughts might differ.’
Rowling’s seven-book series was adapted into eight feature films which grossed £6 billion.