During a QnA following Warner Bros' recent presentation, HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys is asked about the author's involvement on HBO Max's upcoming 'Harry Potter' series reboot.
- Apr 15, 2023
AceShowbiz - HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys appears to dodge questions about J.K. Rowling and her controversial take on transgender. During a Q&A following Warner Bros' recent presentation on Wednesday, April 12, Bloys was asked about the author's involvement on HBO Max's upcoming "Harry Potter" series reboot.
At the event, he refused to comment on Rowling's views when asked how they may affect the ability to find talent for the series. "No, I don't think this is the forum," Bloys shared. "That's a very online conversation, very nuanced and complicated and not something we're going to get into."
"Our priority is what's on the screen," Bloys added. "Obviously, the 'Harry Potter' story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That's our priority - what's on screen."
He went on to confirm Rowling's involvement in the reboot. "[Rowling] will be involved. She's an executive producer on the show. Her insights are going to be helpful on that," he said. "The TV show is new and we're excited about that, but, remember, we've been in the 'Potter' business for 20 years. This is not a new decision for us, we're very comfortable being in the 'Potter' business."
HBO Max and Rowling confirmed that it's developing a TV series based on the megahit book series after the news regarding the matter first leaked on April 3. "Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me," the author said in a press release announcing the show, which noted that the series will be "a faithful adaptation" of Rowling's seven "Harry Potter" novels. "And I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series."
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the new series will not preclude any other projects set in the wider Wizarding World franchise. "We're free to do anything we want," Zaslav divulged. "In some areas, we'd need to do it with J.K., in other areas we have full ability to move forward. So this is a full deployment on the MAX platform of 'Harry Potter.' "
