Culture

Max Orders Decade-Long Harry Potter TV Adaptation

APR 13 2023·Updated APR 14 2023

Story

Image credit: cbs

The Facts

US streaming service Max confirmed on Wednesday that it has ordered a decade-long television adaptation of the Harry Potter books written by JK Rowling.
The Telegraph
The television show will feature a separate cast than the one featured in the eight films released between 2001 and 2011. Rowling is slated to be an executive producer.
nytimes
In a statement, Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, said the show will be a “faithful adaptation” of the books, with each book being presented as one season of the show.
NPR Online News
In addition to the books and films, Harry Potter has inspired a Broadway show, theme parks, video games, and an international touring exhibition. The video game Hogwarts Legacy sold 12M copies and made $850M in the first two weeks following its February release.
CBS News
Max, formerly known as HBO Max, is the streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which formed in a merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. last year.
CBS News

Sources Split

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Warner Bros. Discovery should rethink the political implications of deciding to work with Rowling before going forward with this project. Any collaboration with her on the new series is a slap in the face to the trans community, as Rowling has been vocal about her anti-trans agenda. Ten years of a series with her as an executive producer will provide a platform for Rowling to continue to air her hateful views.

The Hollywood Reporter

Narrative B

It’s possible to separate the person from the politics, and Warner Bros. Discovery will focus on what’s going to be on the screen – an incredibly affirmative, positive story told over the course of a decade. Rowling’s views on an unrelated topic don’t make her any less of a valuable consultant for the upcoming series.