Warner Brothers boss David Zaslav arranged meetings with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling to get her involved in a future in which the studio wants to heavily involve Hogwarts.
Rowling, who wrote all seven volumes of the famous wizarding series that sold millions of copies and inspired eight blockbuster films, exercises immense control over the future of the series, with a contract that says her representatives can veto anything , what she doesn't write about Harry Potter after she dies.
Additionally, according to the Wall Street Journal, meetings with executives in what Rowling calls the “Ministry of Magic” can become deeply emotional.
The episode reportedly ended with tears, a “shouting fight” and her threat to boycott products and films, which officials said could end any hopes of new Harry Potter content.
Zaslav – the controversial CEO of Warner Brothers – reportedly told Rowling in one of their meetings that she had a large share of his ambitions for the studio's future, including a TV series about Max that could cost billions.
Many familiar with the conversations compared it to an attempt to restore a marriage rather than a simple business relationship. Zaslav said she was as important to the future of Warner Brothers as Steven Spielberg or Clint Eastwood once were.
With Eastwood in his 90s and Spielberg having moved on from WB with his latest films, Rowling is considered the last of the studio's “A+ talent” crew.
Warner Brothers boss David Zaslav arranged meetings with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling to get her involved in a future in which the studio wants to heavily involve Hogwarts
He had heard from several executives that the company disagreed with the author after she refused to participate in a reunion special for Max and did not pose for photos with the cast at the premiere of the latest “Fantastic Beasts.” ' film for which she wrote the scripts.
According to the WSJ, Zaslav tried to bond with Rowling – few in the WB universe had her ear before he came to power – by talking about their childhood and families in London while trying to “breathe new life” into her beloved book series.
During an earnings conference call on Friday, the executive said that Max is aiming to premiere the new show in the first quarter of 2026, Variety reported.
The CEO confirmed on that call that he and a delegation of Warner executives had met with Rowling just weeks earlier.
Rowling is known to be fiercely protective of the franchise, holding biennial Ministry of Magic meetings where she talks to executives – who spend weeks fleshing out ideas – about what the universe can and cannot do for the future.
It also vetoed any “non-authored sequels” to the series in film and television, which likely slowed down the upcoming series by several years.
Rowling even changed the deal to give this veto power to a literary foundation, so that in the event of her death, Warner Brothers wouldn't even be allowed to do anything without her permission.
However, it doesn't stop with books and films. She famously once demanded that real versions of the chocolate frogs made in the books and sold at Universal's Harry Potter theme park should be fair trade.
The Harry Potter series has spawned seven books and a blockbuster film series starring Daniel Radcliffe
Many familiar with the conversations compared it to an attempt to restore a marriage rather than a simple business relationship. Zaslav said Rowling and her creation are as important to the future of Warner Brothers as Steven Spielberg or Clint Eastwood once were
Zaslav – the controversial CEO of Warner Brothers – reportedly told Rowling in one of their meetings that she was a big part of his ambitions for the studio's future
Rowling, who wrote all seven volumes of the famed wizarding series that sold millions of copies and inspired eight blockbuster films, wields immense control over the future of the series and meetings with her can become deeply emotional, with one reportedly ending in a “screaming Fight “Ends”
In interviews early in the film series, she had even publicly expressed to CBS her dislike of action figures, which ended up being a large part of the studio's sales strategy.
At the start of the films, Rowling had signed a deal that gave WB much more control, but by the 2010s she had negotiated a larger cut of merchandise sales and received an “agreement” that she and her staff would have a say in how the franchise was managed for the studio.
In recent years she had become much more distant from the studio, and those few who had access to her called her “Jo” (Rowling was born Joanne Rowling).
Rowling's contact and one of her few remaining connections at Warners was Neil Blair, her most important business partner. As one of WB's lawyers, he had helped draft their first contract with the studio.
The Ministry of Magic's meetings became increasingly rare, and Warner executives claimed that she left them in the dark about what she thought of their ideas.
Those who attended the meetings said Rowling would go from “approachable and focused” – attendees said she didn't even look at her phone – to “combustible”, with shouting matches, crying and Rowling threatening to do so to boycott things.
She often related to business matters through her past, as she wrote the books as a single mother and was allegedly abused by her first husband.
The studio itself became concerned about Rowling when fans began protesting her belief that transgender women should not automatically be allowed access to women's restrooms or participate in women's sports.
The original main trio of wizards from the Harry Potter film series have distanced themselves from Rowling
Rowling with the cast of the second “Fantastic Beasts” film. She reportedly refused to appear in photos with the cast at the sequel's premiere in 2022
In recent years, Rowling had become much more distant from the studio, and those few who had access to her called her “Jo.”
Those who attended the meetings said Rowling would go from “approachable and focused” – attendees said she didn't even look at her phone – to “combustible”, with shouting matches, crying and Rowling threatening to do so to boycott things
It also alienated her from some members of the cast – star Daniel Radcliffe publicly tried to disown her – before she decided not to attend the 2022 reunion.
However, executives at Warners investigated the matter extensively and concluded that, although she may have changed her mind about Rowling, her mind could not stop the Harry Potter merchandising juggernaut.
It was perfect timing when Zaslav took over as CEO of WB in 2022 and made it his mission to integrate Hogwarts into a streaming service.
“Not: 'What would you do if…'” Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of the company's HBO and Max content divisions, said of Zaslav's stance. “But: 'We will do it.' '
Zaslav met with Rowling shortly afterwards and although he saw that she was still angry with the studio, he still wanted to get her approval.
He rolled out the red carpet and set the blockbuster cost that a TV series can sustain in the streaming market, with just one season of this new series possibly budgeted at $250 million.
The strategy is to use the new Max show to get people excited about the older films and the original books.
The authors are now presenting not only Warner and Max, but also Rowling herself about her ideas for the series.
Rowling's views on transgender people led her to become estranged from some members of the cast – star Daniel Radcliffe publicly tried to disown her – before she decided not to attend the 2022 reunion
Zaslav rolled out the red carpet and introduced Rowling to the blockbuster costs a TV series can sustain in the streaming market, with just one season of this new series possibly budgeted at $250 million
According to Zaslav, a new Harry Potter-themed TV series is planned for early 2026
It is part of an ongoing world of projects involving their wizards, which include theme parks around the world, a stage show on Broadway and the West End, stores in most major cities, and video games, including one based on the fictional game Quidditch based and in development
Rowling nodded in agreement when the show was announced in April, saying, “Max's commitment to maintaining the integrity of my books is important to me.”
It is part of an ongoing world of projects involving their wizards, which include theme parks around the world, a stage show on Broadway and the West End, stores in most major cities, and video games, including one based on the fictional game Quidditch based and in development.
Blair said in a statement that they are “proud to deliver world-class work for fans of the Harry Potter series around the world.”
“We hope this will continue together under Warner Bros. Discovery’s new leadership, with the same care and excellence that the franchise has represented for over 25 years.”
Zaslav said of the meetings: “We spent real time with JK and her team.”
He predicted a world in which people would enjoy the magical world of Harry Potter for generations to come.
“Both sides are just excited to revitalize this franchise. Our conversations were great and we couldn't be more excited about what lies ahead. “We can’t wait to share a decade of new stories with fans around the world on Max.”