Warner Bros and JK Rowling Re-Team for New "Harry Potter-Inspired" Film Series

[themoviejunkie]

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Merry Christmas to all Potterheads!

The studio announced today that it is reteaming with JK Rowling on “a new film series from Rowling’s world of witches and wizards” that is inspired by Potter’s textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Per the press release, Rowling is poised to make her screenwriting debut on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which will be an original story and is planned as the first film in a new series. The pic will focus on the mysterious author of the textbook, Newt Scamander, and Rowling had this to say about the new film and its connection to Harry Potter:

“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.”

Here's the full press release:

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.”

[Blackbeard]

WB is really trying to go toe to toe with Disney now. I guess this is their answer to Disney's upcoming Disney Princess' movies(Maleficent 2014 and Cinderella in 2015), and Pirates which is still going strong for as long as Johnny Depp is alive.

anyway as for the title itself, I guess they're planning on starting small before tackling on bigger stories like say, the tale about the four founders of Hogwarts, or maybe even young Dumbledore and young Grindelwald's story, which fans really wanted Rowling to make a book of after Deathly Hallows came out.

definitely going to be exciting next couple of years for HP fans, again.

[themoviejunkie]

WB is really trying to go toe to toe with Disney now. I guess this is their answer to Disney's upcoming Disney Princess' movies(Maleficent 2014 and Cinderella in 2015), and Pirates which is still going strong for as long as Johnny Depp is alive.

anyway as for the title itself, I guess they're planning on starting small before tackling on bigger stories like say, the tale about the four founders of Hogwarts, or maybe even young Dumbledore and young Grindelwald's story, which fans really wanted Rowling to make a book of after Deathly Hallows came out.

definitely going to be exciting next couple of years for HP fans, again.

Im not so sure that they're really going toe-to-toe with Disney on this one. I even doubt that these HP-related films are going to be released sometime in 2014 or 2015. All we know as of this time is that this new film series are going to be based entirely on the said book.

And I agree. Definitely going to be another exciting chapter for all Potterheads. Me included. Hihi

[boot180]

This'll probably be on a softer note compared sa original HP series.

But nonetheless. As a confessed Potterhead, I am excited for these series.

Reminds me of the vein of The Hobbit though.

[aljy]

I'll be waiting for this movie. I'm a potter fans since I was still in highschool