Since Disney now have their own films, Marvel, and STAR WARS, Warner Bros. will be damned if they let one of their biggest money makers go quietly into the night. The HARRY POTTER franchise has grossed billions, and it looks as though adventures in the same universe are set to continue, even if they don’t focus on our protagonists. Luckily, Warner Bros. aren’t just pulling ideas from their rear ends, as they have HARRY POTTER author, J.K. Rowling on board to script a film based on the spin-off guide, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.
The film will not be a direct sequel nor prequel, but merely a film that takes place in the same universe. Set 70 years before the the events of HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE. Speaking of a chance to delve into the world she created once again, Rowling had this to say:
It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning Fantastic Beasts into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of Fantastic Beasts, realised 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 hardcore 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. Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for 17 years, Fantastic Beasts is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. 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.
This will be Rowling’s first attempt at a screenplay as it was Steven Kloves who adapted her novels for the previous 8 films. Rowling has also kept herself fairly separate from the HARRY POTTER franchise of late, having written an unrelated novel in the form of The Casual Vacancy, as well as taking on the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith for a proposed series of crime novels.
In addition, Warner Bros. will also be developing the world of Hogwarts in other areas such as video games and theme parks in conjunction with Universal Studios. The partnership between Rowling and Warner Bros. is also extending to the distribution of the mini-series of The Casual Vacancy outside of the U.K.
This could be the start of a massive franchise extension. Rowling has also written two other Hogwart’s Library Books with The Tales Of Beedle The Bard and Quidditch Through The Ages. Let’s hope that there are many fantastic stories yet to tell, and not just Warner Bros. squeezing out as much money as we can. I don’t think it will be too long before we see a James Potter prequel set during his high school days, or the rise of Voldemort.
Source: Warner Bros (via Comingsoon)
Sam
Sep 14, 2013 at 9:31 am
We need a prequel series with the marauders.