JK Rowling has more money than God, so it seems a little antithetical to describe any project she embarks on as a “cash grab,” and yet that’s the first phrase that came to mind when I heard that she was adapting one of her Project Red Nose books, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, for film.
What’s even more confusing are the number of Harry Potter actors who are saying that they may or may not take part — so far Radcliffe is in and Rickman is out, allegedly — but hat kind of wacky frame narrative would even be involved in something like this? Harry pulls out an old textbook and reminisces?
I’d like to keep this franchise going as much as the next emotionally stunted Harry Potter fan, but surely a series about the Marauders, or Beetle the Bard, or that damn encyclopedia we’ve been promised for like a decade now (!!!), or even a version of Pottermore than doesn’t give everyone a case of the sads would make more sense than this.
That, and Rowling is apparently writing the script herself. She’s a solid, engaging writer, but it’s just a different medium. And adapting a plotless book is going to be hard enough.
What do you think — good idea? Bad idea? Am I just being a curmudgeon?
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Sounds more like it was just something fun to do. When you have insane amounts of cash you get to pick your projects based on how fun they might be. Ah, how wonderful that must be!
That’s true. And in a sense, the strange carte-blancheness of this project is somewhat intriguing. She can kind of do what she wants, which, as you said, is an enormous luxury.
I’m looking forward to it. I kind of want to see what she can come up with. The encyclopedia should be out first though… its been a while.
Don’t care how — I want it now.
She had to write it. If she didn’t, someone else would have. WB already had the rights to it, because it falls under the HP franchise. They’re her creations, so I don’t blame her for wanting to keep them under her name.
I don’t really blame her for writing it, but I do question why it’s *this* project in particular. As I said above, it seems like there are other side projects that would make more sense as an adaptation.
Seven books and eight movies later… I think we’ve had enough. She should just stop it, right now. I love Harry Potter but this is ridiculous.
I don’t think this has to do with Harry Potter at all, it’s a new story.
It’s still based in the same world, though.
Given the massive disappointment that was The Hobbit, my heart tells my childhood that this probably won’t be good.
Agreed.
Didn’t Rowling say she wasn’t planning on writing any more about the HP characters, and that’s why she chose this project?
But then why are some of the original actors confirming/denying potential involvement?