J.K. Rowling’s involvement in the Harry Potter franchise moving forward has been clarified.
Rowling is known for writing the Harry Potter novels, which then spawned a film franchise, the first one, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone outside of the United States), being released in 2001.
Rowling has since become a controversial figure for repeatedly making anti-trans statements over social media that oftentimes prove to be false. Numerous actors involved in the Harry Potter films have criticized her over her beliefs.
With a sequel to the Hogwarts Legacy game now in development at Warner Bros. Games and a Harry Potter HBO television series being in the works from Warner Bros. Television, the company has now clarified Rowling’s involvement in the franchise moving forward.
What is J.K. Rowling’s involvement with Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter franchise?
According to Variety, Rowling is not involved in managing the Harry Potter franchise at this time; however, Warner Bros. Discovery executives keep her updated through her literary agent.
“If we’re going to ever go beyond a canon conversation, we make sure that we’re all comfortable with what we’re doing,” said Warner Bros. Discovery’s Robert Oberschelp.
Rowling has an executive producer credit on the forthcoming HBO series alongside Mark Mylod, Francesca Gardiner, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman. Gardiner is writing the series, while Mylod will helm multiple episodes. It is a production by HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV, and Warner Bros. Television.
“There’s not a lot to talk about at this moment. We’ve got our fantastic writing staff in place and they are doing what they need to do,” Warner Bros. TV Group’s Channing Dungey recently said about the series, via The Hollywood Reporter. “And casting calls have opened up in the U.K. and Ireland, so the process is moving along. It’s going quite well. It’s an unbelievable dream, honestly, and as somebody who is a huge fan of books, the opportunity to get to explore them in maybe a little bit more in-depth than you can in just a two-hour film, that’s the whole reason we’re on this journey.”
