Harry Potter Thread

[Hypo Lil' Leaguer Find all posts View Profile Close Hypo]

Harry Potter Spin-Off Movie Coming, JK Rowling Writing Screenplay

Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expanded creative partnership with world-renowned, best-selling author J.K. Rowling. At the center of the partnership is a new film series from Rowling’s world of witches and wizards, inspired by Harry Potter’s Hogwarts textbook “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and the adventures of the book’s fictitious author, Newt Scamander. The announcement was made by Kevin Tsujihara, Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be an original story and will mark Rowling’s screenwriting debut. It is planned as the first picture in a new film series. Set in the wizarding world, the story will feature magical creatures and characters, some of which will be familiar to devoted Harry Potter fans.

“Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” said Rowling. “The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.”

“We are incredibly honored that Jo has chosen to partner with Warner Bros. on this exciting new exploration of the world of wizardry which has been tremendously successful across all of our businesses,” said Tsujihara. “She is an extraordinary writer, who ignited a reading revolution around the world, which then became an unprecedented film phenomenon. We know that audiences will be as excited as we are to see what her brilliant and boundless imagination conjures up for us.”

In addition to the film series, “Fantastic Beasts” will also be developed across the Studio’s video game, consumer products and digital initiatives businesses, including enhanced links with Pottermore.com, Rowling’s digital online experience built around the Harry Potter stories.

The Studio’s expanded partnership with Rowling also covers the continued expansion of its Harry Potter activities, including the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in conjunction with partner Universal Parks and Resorts (currently in Orlando, FL; opening in Hollywood, CA and Osaka, Japan), digital initiatives (including Pottermore), video games, consumer products and visitor attractions.

In addition, Warner Bros. will serve as the worldwide TV distributor (excluding the U.K.) of J.K. Rowling’s upcoming television adaptation for the BBC of “The Casual Vacancy,” her best-selling first novel aimed at adult audiences. This miniseries begins production in 2014.

The relationship will be managed in London by Neil Blair of The Blair Partnership, Rowling’s literary agency, and Josh Berger, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland and Spain, who will serve as Warner Bros.’ chief business contact for all J.K. Rowling initiatives going forward.

Rowling’s expanded quote regarding “Fantastic Beasts” is below:

“It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.

As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros.

Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.

I particularly want to thank Kevin Tsujihara of Warner Bros. for his support in this project, which would not have happened without him. I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it.”

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

Not sure what to think about this. Somehow I'd be happier about it if she had decided to write a series of books about the character that had then been optioned for a screenplay. I'm not thrilled about the studio's desire for more movies being the driving force behind this expansion of the Potter mythos.

At the very least, I hope (if there is such a thing) that she writes the novelization of the movie.

[IonFan Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close IonFan]

who didn't see that coming, they tried to make other cash-cows like Potter but none of them seemed worked so now they've gone back to the cow that always delivers

[chivalrous Corps Honor Guard Find all posts View Profile Close chivalrous]

It'll be interesting to see - I wonder how they're going to drive the mythos forward? Are you going to follow Charlie Weasley on one of his safaris for the Ministry of Magical Creatures?

Frankly I'd rather see it as a TV series loosely based on Steve Irwin with Charlie and Hagrid getting their arses handed to them by that week's feature creature

[Mister.Weirdo Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Mister.Weirdo]

Is J.K. Rowling selling out?

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

Kind of sounds like it. I don't consider writing more stuff set in that world to be "selling out", but when it seems clear that the impetus for doing so is that WB came to her wanting more material for additional movies, well... yeah, writing more of this stuff for THAT reason sounds suspiciously like selling out to me.

Of course, I doubt I'll care if it ends up being good. Selling out is only really annoying (at least to me) when it produces inferior product just to grab some cash. If you produce quality product just to grab some cash, why should I care?

[Michael Heide Heide Finition Find all posts View Profile Close Michael Heide]

Is it April 1st already?!

[Lantern A-train Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Lantern A-train]

Pretty sure this one isn't a joke.

[Mister.Weirdo Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Mister.Weirdo]

Kind of sounds like it. I don't consider writing more stuff set in that world to be "selling out", but when it seems clear that the impetus for doing so is that WB came to her wanting more material for additional movies, well... yeah, writing more of this stuff for THAT reason sounds suspiciously like selling out to me.

Of course, I doubt I'll care if it ends up being good. Selling out is only really annoying (at least to me) when it produces inferior product just to grab some cash. If you produce quality product just to grab some cash, why should I care?

I hope the film's are good too.

I have my doubts though.

[W.West Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close W.West]

She pitched it to them.


Has anyone the book? I haven't and I guess until I do, I feel pretty uncomfortable with her as a screenwriter. Its a completely different process than writing a novel. And even writing great novels isn't a sure thing, even for her.

Still, a New York set 20yr old wizard by JK Rowling...exciting.

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

She pitched it to them.


Has anyone the book? I haven't and I guess until I do, I feel pretty uncomfortable with her as a screenwriter. Its a completely different process than writing a novel. And even writing great novels isn't a sure thing, even for her.

Still, a New York set 20yr old wizard by JK Rowling...exciting.

I've read the book. It isn't really the sort of thing you base a movie on unless you are desperate for material. It isn't going to be a true adaptation, let's put it that way. The book is what it sounds like, a reference work about various magical beasts. There's no story there.

And according to the article she did NOT pitch it to them.

It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ into a film.

It was the other way around, which is a big part of why I'm wary.

[Michael Heide Heide Finition Find all posts View Profile Close Michael Heide]

So it's D&D Monster Manual: The Movie.

Great.

[JohnnyV Pictionary Master Find all posts View Profile Close JohnnyV]

She pitched it to them.


Has anyone the book? I haven't and I guess until I do, I feel pretty uncomfortable with her as a screenwriter. Its a completely different process than writing a novel. And even writing great novels isn't a sure thing, even for her.

Still, a New York set 20yr old wizard by JK Rowling...exciting.

Couldn't disagree more. Having a strong narrative, sense of empathy, and confidence in your writing is what matters. Structure can be learned and you can always have someone edit a script and tell someone something might not work for film.

Interesting that this is the route they're going, I kind of get the sense that this is WB's way of saying "We promise this isn't a sequel and we're not selling out, so please don't hate us for it but we'd still like to milk you for millions more dollars." Having J.K actually write it is definitely a strong first step, and I'd be wary about saying she's sold out because of this. In terms of making money, she sold out YEARS ago. If she wanted to she could live on her Harry Potter private island and sip away on mai tais for the rest of her life.

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

Having J.K actually write it is definitely a strong first step, and I'd be wary about saying she's sold out because of this. In terms of making money, she sold out YEARS ago. If she wanted to she could live on her Harry Potter private island and sip away on mai tais for the rest of her life.

True, but to me the more worrying form of "selling out" isn't licensing other products based on your work. It is when you start adding to your body of work itself solely because somebody threw money at you to do so. Prior to this, I don't feel like she has ever written more Harry Potter material expressly because somebody else wanted more to make money off of.

I could be wrong, though. I don't know the actual genesis behind "The Tales of Beedle the Bard", whether that volume was her idea, or pitched to her by others wanting something more to sell. EDIT: I'm still not sure whose idea it was to make this volume, but it, too, was a charity effort.

I guess technically "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and "Quidditch Through the Ages" (will that be the next film series once this new one is done? ) might have been written at the request of others, but they were for charity.

[JohnnyV Pictionary Master Find all posts View Profile Close JohnnyV]

Well, you have to think of this from her perspective. She's created this world that millions upon millions of people around the world enjoy. All of these great things - movies, video games, an entire section of a theme park is dedicated to her work. Why wouldn't you want those good times to continue?

Now, I can't speak for her personally, however, I'd be extremely leery to immediately call her a sellout. If she was a sellout, she'd have given up on this series years ago. "Selling out" means you're no longer doing it for the right reasons, which I think will be pretty immediate by the quality of the work. Calling it that at this juncture is extremely premature.