Is the brand new Harry Potter TV collection a celebration of legacy or a cursed concept? It will depend on who you ask.
The much-beloved story of the “Boy Who Lived” from controversial author J.Okay. Rowling has been formally green-lit for tv by the streaming service Max, previously HBO Max.
Billed as a “faithful” retelling of Rowling’s authentic seven books, the live-action collection shall be launched throughout the span of a decade, with a brand new forged of actors within the main roles.
Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav introduced the mission on Wednesday, in tandem with a declaration that HBO Max would merge with Discovery+.
“The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years,” reads a press release from Max.
The streaming platform promised the TV collection could be produced with the “same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for.”
“Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”
Rowling is labelled an government producer on the manufacturing. In a press release of her personal, Rowling mentioned, “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.”
Reaction to the announcement has been blended, with many condemning Rowling’s involvement. In current years, Rowling has come underneath hearth for her outspoken views on transgender rights. (In 2020, Rowling described transgender hormone remedy as a “new kind of conversion therapy for young gay people.”)
Harry Potter film actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have beforehand spoken out in opposition to Rowling’s views.
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content, instructed The Hollywood Reporter that Rowling’s “insights will be helpful” in creating the TV collection.
“We are in the Harry Potter business. The TV show is new and exciting, but we’ve been in the Harry Potter business for 20 years; this isn’t a new decision,” he mentioned. “We’re comfortable being in the Potter business. J.K. is a very online conversation.… It’s very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into. Our priority is what’s onscreen. The Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive about love and acceptance, and that’s our priority, what’s on the screen.”
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Regardless, the response from Harry Potter followers on-line has been lower than stellar.
Entertainment podcaster Dave Gonzales mentioned the collection makes manner for “ten years of press events dragging (Rowling’s) anti-trans agenda back into the news cycle.”
The Harry Potter franchise of books, films, video video games and extra is estimated to be value US$25 billion.
The first Harry Potter ebook was revealed in 1997. The seventh ebook that concluded the collection was launched in 2007. The eight movies within the collection’ film franchise had been launched between 2001 and 2011.
In the years since, Warner Bros. has launched a trilogy of Fantastic Beasts movies starring Eddie Redmayne. The stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which launched with a brand new story from Rowling in 2016, has additionally been mounted throughout the globe.
This 12 months, the online game Hogwarts Legacy earned greater than US$850 million in world gross sales, regardless of calls to boycott the sport over Rowling’s monetary profit.
The forged of actors and writers concerned with the brand new Harry Potter collection has but to be launched.
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