Harry Potter will be brought to life on the small screen in a new decade-long television series, it has been revealed.
The series will be a “faithful adaptation” of the hugely popular books about the wizarding world by author JK Rowling, who will serve as an executive producer.
It will feature a different cast to the films, with each season promising to be “authentic to the original books” and bring Harry Potter to new audiences.
The series will be available on Max – currently branded as HBO Max – a streaming service from Warner Bros, the production company behind the original films starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
JK Rowling with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in 2011
“The new series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years,” a statement from Max said.
The original films will remain “at the core” of the franchise, the streaming service said.
Rowling, 57, hailed Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of her books, adding: “I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series.”
British film producer David Heyman – who produced all eight installments of the movie franchise – is in talks to work on the television series.
Pic: AP
Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, Casey Bloys, said: “We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way.
“Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the wizarding world.
“In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and JK Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.”
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JK Rowling will serve as an executive producer
Rowling, is one of the most successful authors of all time with her seven Harry Potter books, published between 1997 and 2007, selling more than 500 million copies worldwide.
More recently, she has been criticised for her views on gender identity, which came to light in a number of tweets she published in 2020.
In a new podcast entitled The Witch Trials of JK Rowling in February, she said she “never set out to upset anyone” but was “not comfortable with getting off my pedestal”.
Rowling said she “absolutely knew” her comments and views on transgender issues would make some Harry Potter fans “deeply unhappy” – but added that “a tonne of Potter fans that were grateful that I said what I said”.
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