Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Wednesday that the first Harry Potter television series is moving forward, with author J.K. Rowling serving as an executive producer. The show will be a “faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s best‑selling books about the boy wizard and will stream on the company’s newly rebranded service, Max. The announcement confirms speculation that an episode‑based series set in the magical world of Hogwarts is in development.
Rowling, who has recently faced accusations of transphobia for emphasizing biological sex over gender identity in comments about trans women—a charge she denies—said she appreciates Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of her books. “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,” she said in a statement.
Warner Bros. Discovery described the project as a decade‑long series that will adapt the stories from each book with a new cast. No filming schedule was provided. When asked at a press conference whether Rowling’s remarks about trans people might complicate casting, Max content head Casey Bloys declined to comment. He added that the “Harry Potter” story is “incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self‑acceptance,” and that Rowling’s role as executive producer will bring valuable insight.
The Max streaming service, which merges HBO Max and Discovery Plus, is set to launch in the United States on May 23. AFP
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