'Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Writes First Screenplay for Upcoming 'Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them' Movie

Hollywood has made it the normal thing these days to turn most successful book series into movies eventually. The Hobbit is currently two films into its trilogy, and the final books in the Hunger Games and Twilight series were split across two films each. This trend began with the final book of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was divided into two films, released in 2010 and 2011. 

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter have won multiple awards and sold more than 400 million copies. They have become the best-selling book series in history^. Rowling had overall approval on the scripts for the Harry Potter movies and maintained creative control by serving as a producer on the final instalment.

The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling's fortune at £560 million, ranking her as the twelfth richest woman in the United Kingdom. Forbes ranked Rowling as the forty-eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007,  and Time magazine named her as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fans. In October 2010, Rowling was named the "Most Influential Woman in Britain" by leading magazine editors. She has supported charities including Comic Relief, One Parent Families, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Lumos (formerly the Children's High Level Group), and in politics supports the Labour Party and Better Together.