Warner Bros. Announces Expanded Creative Partnership with J.K. Rowling

Rowling to Make Screenwriting Debut on “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” the First in a New Film Series

Partnership Spans All Areas of Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter Businesses, Including Theme Parks, Digital Initiatives, Games and Visitor Attractions

Plus Studio to Serve as Global International TV Distributor of J.K. Rowling’s Upcoming Adaptation of her Book “The Casual Vacancy” for the BBC

Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expanded creative partnership with world-renowned, best-selling author J.K. Rowling. At the center of the partnership is a new film series from Rowling’s world of witches and wizards, inspired by Harry Potter’s Hogwarts textbook “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and the adventures of the book’s fictitious author, Newt Scamander. The announcement was made by Kevin Tsujihara, Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be an original story and will mark Rowling’s screenwriting debut. It is planned as the first picture in a new film series. Set in the wizarding world, the story will feature magical creatures and characters, some of which will be familiar to devoted Harry Potter fans.

“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.”

“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.”

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,” her best-selling first novel aimed at adult audiences. This miniseries begins production in 2014.

The relationship will be managed in London by Neil Blair of The Blair Partnership, Rowling’s literary agency, and Josh Berger, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland and Spain, who will serve as Warner Bros.’ chief business contact for all J.K. Rowling initiatives going forward.

Rowling’s expanded quote regarding “Fantastic Beasts” is below:

“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 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. 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.

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.”

映画作品へのデビューに関するJ.K.ローリングの声明

Warner Bros. は2013 年9月12日に、 J.K. ローリングが『幻の動物とその生息地』で初の映画作品でのデビューを果たすことを発表しました。これは、 J.K. ローリングとの作品の提携を展開する、新たな映画シリーズの第1作です。映画は、ハリー・ポッターのホグワーツの同名のテキストから着想を得たもので、本の中の架空の作家、ニュート・スキャマンダーをフィーチャーした作品です。.

「Warner Bros.が『幻の動物とその生息地』 を映画化しないかと提案してきたことから始まりました。私は、楽しいアイディアだと思いましたが、『幻の動物とその生息地』を書いたとされる作家、ニュート・スキャマンダーに会うというアイディアが他の作家によって実現したというは難しいものでした。私は自分の物語の世界の中にあまりに長く住んでいたために、絶対それを守らなければならないと感じていましたし、既にニュートについては多くのことを知っていたからです。徹底したハリー・ポッターのファンならご存知だと思いますが、私は彼のことが本当に大好きで彼の孫のロルフをハリー・ポッターシリーズのルーナ・ラブグッドと結婚させたくらいですからね。

Warnerの提案を考えたとき、アイディアが形になりそれが頭から離れなくなりました。こうして、私は最終的に映画化に関する自分のアイディアを Warner Brosに売り込んだのです。

私が17年間満足していた魔女と魔法使いの世界的なコミュニティが舞台ですが、『幻の動物とその生息地』は、ハリー・ポッターシリーズの続編でも前編でもなく、魔法の世界を展開した作品です。秘密の魔法社会の法と慣習は、ハリー・ポッターの作品を読んだり映画を見た方にはおなじみのものでしょう。ですがニュートのストーリーは、ハリーの物語が始まる70年前のニューヨークからスタートするのです。

私は特に、このプロジェクトでサポートしてくれたWarner Bros. の Kevin Tsujihara に感謝したいと思います。彼がいなければ実現できませんでした。私は常に本当にわくわくするようなアイディアがあれば、また魔法使いの世界に訪れてみたいと言ってきました。そして今回がまさにその機会だったのです。」（出典）