It’s official, a Max Original series based on the “Harry Potter” books is on the way, with Warner Bros. Discovery announcing the project today.
Author J.K. Rowling is executive producing the series that will stream worldwide on Max and is dubbed a faithful version of her classic Harry Potter books with a new cast.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav indicates the plan is to go for a decade with this series, saying: “It’s really moving, for ten consecutive years, people will see Harry Potter on HBO; I mean, it’s really something.”
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content, says in a statement:
“We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way,” said. “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 J.K. 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.”
Rowling has issued her own statement, saying:
“Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and 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.”
Zaslav reportedly met with Rowling several times in the UK to get the green light for this. Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television are behind the project for Max.
Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts also executive produce and long-time franchise executive producer David Heyman is currently in talks to executive produce.
Following the presentation, Bloys says the series will be on the budget/scale of “House of the Dragon” or higher – meaning a first season that clocks in above $125 million.
The new series will also not preclude them from doing other projects in the vast world of Harry Potter with Zaslav saying: “We’re free to do anything we want. Some areas we need to do with J.K., and other areas we have the full ability to go forward. This is a full deployment on Max of Harry Potter. We can still develop other properties.”
The seven-bestselling “Harry Potter” books have sold 600 million copies worldwide, span retail stores, theme parks, a global stage play, and a $7.7 billion global grossing feature franchise as well as the $1.8 billion grossing “Fantastic Beasts” spinoffs.
Warner Bros. Discovery is now starting the search for a writer/showrunner.
Source: THR
