J.K. Rowling is firing back at critics who plan to boycott the upcoming Harry Potter TV series for Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed the rumors earlier this month when it announced another live-action adaptation of The Wizarding World franchise is in the works with an all-new cast and J.K. Rowling as the executive producer.
As per the announcement, the TV show is aiming to be a “faithful adaptation” and this garnered mixed reactions over the internet. On one hand, fans celebrated a “better” chance to see the magic unfold on the small screen. On the other hand, the involvement of J.K. Rowling was less than pleasing. Many fans expressed their desire to boycott the project because of J.K. Rowling and her views as well as past comments on transgenders and women’s rights.
Now, Rowling has responded to the noise, referring to the planned boycott as “dreadful news” and she’s already “taken the precaution of laying in a large stock of champagne.”
Dreadful news, which I feel duty bound to share. Activists in my mentions are trying to organise yet another boycott of my work, this time of the Harry Potter TV show. As forewarned is forearmed, I've taken the precaution of laying in a large stock of champagne.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 21, 2023
This isn’t the first time that J.K. Rowling has become a lightning rod for controversy. In the lead-up to its release, Hogwarts Legacy was criticized heavily despite trying to distance itself from J.K. Rowling. However, all the negativity surrounding J.K. Rowling hasn’t impacted the commercial success of the product. Warner Bros. Discovery is hoping this success translates from the video game to the big screen.
Unfortunately, it’s a long wait between now and when J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter will come out.
In the meantime, fans can keep themselves busy with Hogwarts Legacy, which is still coming to the PS4 and Xbox One as well as the Nintendo Switch. Finally, we just found out why Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t have Quidditch.
