Although author JK Rowling came under fire for her comments on transgender issues during the pandemic, Warner Bros has bravely worked on the Harry Potter and Wizarding World architect, especially this morning when it was officially announced that Warner Bros Discovery has given the green light for Harry Potter Max streaming series.
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, was asked by a media representative if it would be a challenge for Max to attract talent to the series given her controversial comments.
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Bloys replied bluntly: “I have no comment on that today.”
“No, I don’t think this is the forum (to discuss that),” he said. “This is an online conversation, obviously very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into.”
“Our priority is what’s on screen,” Bloys added. “Obviously the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirming and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That’s our priority – what’s on screen.”
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When asked how closely the author will be involved with the series, Bloys said: “(Rowling) will be involved. She is an executive producer of the series. Her insights will be helpful.”
Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav had met Rowling several times in the UK and was an advocate of Harry Potter series. He has even spoken out in her favor in the wake of the ongoing controversy.
When asked about Warner Bros.’ parameters for the Harry Potter Verse and Rowling’s supervision, Zaslav replied: “We can do what we want in some areas; in some areas we have to do it with JK, in other areas we have full opportunity to move forward. This is just a full deployment on the Max platform of Harry Potter, and we still have the opportunity to develop their other properties.”
Authors Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts are executive producers, with David Heyman currently in negotiations to do the same. Brontë Film and TV is producing with Warner Bros. Television.
Bloys said the search for a showrunner on Harry Potter, starts now.
“We’ve tried to keep a low profile,” Bloys said. “We haven’t approached agencies. We have our own internal process where we think about people but don’t want to go out into the world. Now that the news is out, we’re going to start working with the Blair Partnership and approach the company.”
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