Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Discovery is closing a deal to turn J.K. Rowling’s iconic Harry Potter book franchise into a series on HBO, according to reports from Bloomberg. Each of the seasons of the show will be based on one of the seven Potter books.
Additionally, while J.K. Rowling will be involved in the series she can “ensure it remains loyal to her original material,” she will not be serving as showrunner.
“Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is close to a deal for a new online TV series based on Harry Potter, the best-selling young adult books, according to two people with knowledge of the matter,” says Bloomberg.
“Each season of the series will be based on one of JK Rowling’s seven books, said the people, who asked not to be identified since the deal hasn’t been announced, suggesting years of fresh fare from the popular stories.”
At this time, HBO has yet to make an official statement regarding the report from Bloomberg.
The reboot of the Harry Potter franchise comes after the prequel film series, Fantastic Beasts, failed to recapture the success and acclaim of the original films, which ran from 2001 to 2011. The series was not only widely acclaimed by critics and fans alike but it ultimately became the fourth highest-grossing film franchise of all time, behind only the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and Spider-Man.
At this time, there are no creatives — directors, actors, etc. — attached to the project, which hasn’t even been officially announced by HBO yet.
Getting a new Harry Potter franchise off the ground would be a massive win for Warner Bros. Discovery, as new CEO David Zaslav has been vocal about his desire to revitalize the franchise since taking over last summer.