J.K. Rowling in talks to produce ‘Harry Potter’ TV series with Warner Bros.

It’s been reported that a Harry Potter TV series is under discussion between Warner Bros. and JK Rowling. The media giant is reportedly pushing to convince the author to produce a new series based directly on her book series for its new streaming service that will combine HBO Max and Discovery+.

Bloomberg first reported that Warner Bros. was “close to a deal” for the series on Monday, citing two sources with knowledge of the deal saying that each season of the series will be based on one of the seven books.

The controversial author will be “involved in the series to ensure it remains loyal to her original material” but will not be involved in the day-to-day running of the show or serve as its creator, the publication’s sources say.

In recent years, Rowling has also attracted controversy for her views on the transgender community, having shared numerous statements condemned as transphobic. In 2020, Harry Potter film star Daniel Radcliffe penned an essay in which he challenged Rowling’s views, stating that “transgender women are women” and “any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people.”

Last year, Radcliffe reiterated his stance, saying “not everybody in the franchise“ shared Rowling’s views. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson – who portrayed Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in the films, respectively – have also shared public statements in solidarity with the trans community in recent years.

In addition to films, the franchise has also spawned multiple other properties, including the Broadway production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the video game Hogwarts Legacy.