J.K. Rowling is one of the most celebrated authors of all time thanks to the epic Harry Potter saga, a series that won the hearts of children and adults alike all over the world. She is also the author of several other popular books that are very much written for adults and exist outside of the Potter universe. Now, we have confirmation that HBO is working on a limited series based on her Cormoran Strike series of bestselling crime novels.
The Cormoran Strike series follows private detective Cormoran Strike in his investigations in London. An injury that he sustained fighting in Afghanistan makes his job tougher on both a physical and psychological level, but his experience during his time in the Special Investigation Branch of the British military gives him an edge when it comes to solving mysteries. With the help of his secretary Robin, he tackles cases that cover everything from murder to corruption to possible conspiracies.
A TV series based on Cormoran Strike was commissioned by BBC One back in 2014. No U.S. network had signed on to bring the show to the American side of the pond, although HBO seemed like a likely home considering its collaboration with BBC on J.K. Rowling's Casual Vacancy adaptation. HBO has now officially acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to Cormoran Strike, according to Deadline. The show is set to cover all three Cormoran Strike books that have been published since The Cuckoo's Calling first hit bookshelves in 2013.
The Cuckoo's Calling will run for three hours, and The Silkworm and Career of Evil will run for two hours each. Filming on the series is set to begin in the U.K. this fall. A fourth Cormoran Strike novel will be released in 2017, so fans of J.K. Rowling's private investigator have a lot to look forward to in the not-too-distant future.
Tom Burke of War and Peace and The Musketeers has been cast as Strike for the BBC/HBO production. There is currently no word on who will play Robin or any of the other crazy characters of the first three Cormoran Strike books. Considering the big names that signed on for the Casual Vacancy collaboration, we may be able to count on some venerable actors appearing in Cormoran Strike. J.K. Rowling's name may add extra appeal to the project, as well.
Of course, if J.K. Rowling had her way, her name might never have been attached to the crime novels. She wrote the first book under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith in order to avoid the association of her new work with Harry Potter, and she was not happy when a law firm leaked her identity. Still, the leak didn't stop her from penning two more books in the series. If all goes well with the latest BBC/HBO collaboration, it's possible that more productions of future Cormoran Strike installments could happen.
