HBO Max and Warner Bros are formally in discussions to adapt J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books for television, according to a person close to the issue.
Earlier today, Bloomberg claimed, citing a source familiar with the issue, that the series was "nearing a contract for HBO, which would purportedly cover each book one season at a time. However, the source clarified the project is still up in the air.
If a contract is reached, the project would be created as an HBO Max Original rather than for HBO.
The series has long been suspected as Warner Bros seeks new ways to capitalise on one of its most valuable properties.
Many theories have lingered around its development for a long time, but Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s president of originals, shot down the speculations last year, telling Variety that “we don't have a series in active development right now,” while leaving the door open.
“There's nothing like a Harry Potter fan in terms of their endless appetite for storytelling and new ways of interacting with these characters,” she said at the time.
“So whether it’s the reunion or live events or games, we're very much in the business of creating new content for those fans and thinking what to do next.”
Nonetheless, Warner Bros’ efforts to keep the Harry Potter property alive have had mixed success.
Despite the continued controversy surrounding Rowling and her anti-trans language, Warner Bros Games revealed in February that Hogwarts Legacy sold more than 12 million units in its first two weeks, making it their largest launch ever.
Their most recent Fantastic Beasts spinoff film, The Secrets of Dumbledore, barely broke even during its theatrical run, collecting only US$405 million (about RM1.784 billion) worldwide.
According to Variety, the series' declining profits have put the originally scheduled fourth and fifth films in jeopardy.
Warner Bros Discovery president David Zaslav stated in November that the company is "focused on franchises," citing properties such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings as examples.
A new Game of Thrones prequel was revealed earlier today, and the studio stated in February that it was creating more Lord of the Rings films. – The Vibes, April 4, 2023
