New J.K. Rowling Series Coming Ahead Of Harry Potter Release

Image via Everett Collection Published Oct 13, 2026, 9:13 AM EDT Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Before HBO's Harry Potter arrives, its controversial author gets a closer look. The BBC have announced a two-part docuseries about the controversial creator of the Wizarding World, J.K. Rowling. It will trace "her dramatic rise, cultural influence, and contested legacy, using her life as a lens through which to explore three decades of profound social, political and technological change." The documentary will be produced by Becoming Frida Kahlo's Rogan Scotland with the first part of the documentary focusing on her creation of Harry Potter, which has since grown into one of the most successful media properties in history. While Rowling was celebrated for her literary achievements, the author has become a major subject of controversy with her outward political views being shared across social media. Part one will explore Harry Potter's creation, but part two will focus more on Rowling "as she steps out from behind her creation and becomes an increasingly powerful political voice." Based on the description by the BBC, it's unclear if they will show the full extent of Rowling's talking points and the harm it has in fact caused to minority groups including trans people. "Admired by supporters as a fearless defender of women's rights and condemned by critics who call her an opponent of trans equality, she finds herself divided from some of the actors and fans who once championed her work." More to come...