JKR interview

[Skimmel_98]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C4674
From: Skimmel_98
Subject: Re: JKR interview
Reply To: [Yahoo! #4673] Re: JKR interview
Date: 7/20/00 9:53 am  (ET)

The best previous example is the Wizard of Oz. MGM, I think, only got
the rights to the first book while Disney got the rest of the series. You
see how many Wizard of Oz movies there have been. Despite having what at
the time was a hot property, Disney made a grand total of one Oz movie
and it was a dud. Of course, the original Wizard of Oz lost money in
its initial release as well.

Ultimately the point is that the leverage of the later books may not
amount to much if the first movie isn't a big hit. How many seven movie
series can you think of where the last five were worth nearly that the
first two?

As for Rowling actually having veto rights there is precedent on that one
as well. The author of Mary Poppins (Travers I think) had been consulting
with the production company was "horrified" at the casting of the movie
and insisted that Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke both replaced. You
see who won that argument.

In the final analysis, it would be nice to have Harry Potter cast with
an entirely British cast. (I'm willing to let Rosey have the role of
Mrs. Weasley and Roth might make a good Snape.) But there are many more
important factors in the movie's success than the nationality of the
actors. They're ability to act for example. Whether the screen writer's
butcher the story for another.

I hope you're right, Penny, that Rowling got significant control of the
end product. I'm sure she wanted it. Given that she has zero movie making
experience, I'd be willing to wager she didn't get it.