Mugglenet has reported that Warner Bros has just signed an agreement with J.K. Rowling to expand the Harry Potter Universe on film, the only catch, we probably won't be seeing the lightning clad wizard or his friends again.
However we will get to see many of the creatures and strange beings that were presented to us during the eight Harry Potter films (seven books).
A textbook featured in the Harry Potter series, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is being produced as a new series of films with it's author Newt Scamander being the official protagonist for the series.
This means the films will be featured in a time long before Harry Potter ever existed, but there could still be some evil wizards to take on and maybe even some older professors from Hogwarts will show up, who knows?
This will also be J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut, so not only will you get a second helping of the Harry Potter universe, you're getting it straight from the original source!
Check out what Rowling had to say about it:
“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. “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.”
“It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.
As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros.
I particularly want to thank Kevin Tsujihara of Warner Bros. for his support in this project, which would not have happened without him. I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it.”
Warner Bros CEO, Kevin Tsuijhara, had this to say in reply to Rowling's comments:
“We are incredibly honored that Jo has chosen to partner with Warner Bros. on this exciting new exploration of the world of wizardry which has been tremendously successful across all of our businesses,” said Tsujihara. “She is an extraordinary writer, who ignited a reading revolution around the world, which then became an unprecedented film phenomenon. We know that audiences will be as excited as we are to see what her brilliant and boundless imagination conjures up for us.”
This also means the expanded universe of Harry Potter outside the films including the games, consumer products and even the theme park at Universal Studios will also be combining this new series of films in as well.
Rejoice Harry Potter fans, rejoice.
James Bowler
Source: Mugglenet