J.K. Rowling is the author of the beloved Harry Potter series, which has become a global phenomenon since its debut in 1997. The books have spawned a successful film franchise, video games, theme parks, and more. But does Rowling still own the rights to Harry Potter?
The short answer is that Warner Bros. retains the rights to the Harry Potter universe in conjunction with Rowling herself. Any future Potter projects would have to go through her, and her company, as well as the studio. Rowling is also involved in the creative decisions for any new projects, so her influence is still very much felt.
Rowling sold the film rights to Warner Bros. in 1999, and the studio has been the sole distributor of the Harry Potter films ever since. This means that Warner Bros. has exclusive rights to the Harry Potter films, and any other adaptations of the books.
However, Rowling still owns the rights to the books themselves. She also owns the rights to any characters, settings, and other elements that she created for the Harry Potter universe. This means that she has the final say in any future projects based on the books.
Rowling also owns the rights to the Harry Potter stage play, which opened in London in 2016. She has also been involved in the development of the Harry Potter mobile game, as well as the upcoming Harry Potter augmented reality game.
In addition, Rowling has recently launched her own production company, Pottermore, which is dedicated to creating new projects based on the Harry Potter universe. This means that she is still very much involved in the creative decisions for any new projects.
So, while Warner Bros. owns the rights to the Harry Potter films, Rowling still owns the rights to the books and other elements of the Harry Potter universe. This means that any future projects based on the books will still need to go through her, and her company, as well as the studio.