J K Rowling goes back to Hogwarts for new film

J K Rowling and Warner Brothers have announced that the Harry Potter author will write the screenplay for a new film to be based on the character Newt Scamander. As well as being a former headmaster of Hogwarts Scamander is also author of the fictitious Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Scamander first appeared in the first Potter book and has popped up briefly in subsequent chapters of the tale. Warner's initial idea was to have someone else write the screenplay but after some thought Rowling decided to handle it herself. It's expected that this new narrative vein will lead to a new series of films though no specifics regarding how many or when they'll be released have been determined yet.

Here is Rowling's full statement:

“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. Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for 17 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. 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, 70 years before Harry’s gets underway. 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.”