Warner Bros. cooperates with J.K. Rowling on new film franchise, miniseries

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The Warner Bros. will expand its cooperation with "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling as both sides will embark on a new film franchise and the distribution of a new miniseries, the studios said Thursday.

The original film, which is entitled "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and marks Rowling's screenwriting debut, will be produced as the first entry of a new witches-and-wizards-themed series, Warner Bros. said in a prepared statement.

It is an original story based on the Hogwarts textbook that appears on a reading list in the first Potter tome, "Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone."

"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," Rowling said.

The film will feature magical creatures and characters, some of which will be familiar to "Harry Potter" fans, the studios said.

However, Warner Bros. has neither given the timeline nor identified a director.

Under the terms of the extended relationship, their joint moviemaking effort will also cover the continued expansion of its "Harry Potter" entities, including the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" theme parks in conjunction with partner Universal Parks and Resorts, video games and consumer products, according to Warner Bros.

"Fantastic Beasts" will also be developed across the studio's video game, consumer products and digital initiatives units, said Kevin Tsujihara, CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

In addition, Warner Bros. will also distribute Rowling's television adaptation work worldwide excluding Britain. The production of her project "The Casual Vacancy," made for BBC, starts next year.

Rowling has penned seven Harry Potter novels between 1997 and 2007 which have sold over 450 million copies worldwide. They have been adapted into eight Warner Bros. films which have rolled up more than 7.7 billion U.S. dollars at the global box office. Endi

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