Harry Potter was the highest grossing movie franchise in history, taking in more cash than James Bond, Star Wars and Lord Of The Rings. However JK Rowling only wrote seven books and so it had to come to an end – well, at least the tale of Potter himself did.
Now Warner Bros. has announced they’re re-teaming with J.K. Rowling, who will write her first movie screenplay, which will be based in the world of Harry Potter, even if it takes place far from Hogwarts. The movie will be inspired by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by the fictitious Newt Scamander, which was one of Harry’s school textbook.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be an original story and is planned as the first picture in a new film series. It will follow Scamander and his the creatures he tracks down.
Rowling commented, “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.”
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. It’s certainly planned as a bit of a cash cow for both Rowling and Warner Bros. but if it’s as fun as the Potter series, there will probably be few complaints.
Rowling’s further commented, “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 favorite 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.”