Attention Nerds, J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros. have announced that the magical world of Harry Potter will continue with a film adaptation of her Hogwarts textbook, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and that book's fictitious author, Newt Scamander.
Rowling is the author of the bestselling Harry Potter series of seven books, published between 1997 and 2007, which have sold over 450 million copies worldwide
The first screenplay from Rowling is expected to be the first in a series of new films about the wizarding world that fans of the Potter books and films know well. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be an original story and will mark Rowling’s screenwriting debut.
“Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” said Rowling in a press release from Warner Bros.
“The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.”
In addition to the film series, “Fantastic Beasts” will also be developed across the Studio’s video game, consumer products and digital initiatives businesses, including enhanced links with Pottermore.com, Rowling’s digital online experience built around the Harry Potter stories.
The Studio’s expanded partnership with Rowling also covers the continued expansion of its Harry Potter activities, including the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in conjunction with partner Universal Parks and Resorts (currently in Orlando, FL; opening in Hollywood, CA and Osaka, Japan), digital initiatives (including Pottermore), video games, consumer products and visitor attractions.
In addition, Warner Bros. will serve as the worldwide TV distributor (excluding the U.K.) of J.K. Rowling’s upcoming television adaptation for the BBC of “The Casual Vacancy,” Rowling’s best-selling first novel aimed at adult audiences. This miniseries begins production in 2014.
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