J.K. Rowling Documentary Series at BBC

The BBC is set to air a two-part documentary about Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. Produced by Rogan Scotland (“Becoming Frida Kahlo”), the film traces “her dramatic rise, cultural impact and controversial legacy, using her life as a lens to explore three decades of profound social, political and technological change.”

The BBC is to produce a two-part documentary about Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Produced by Rogan Scotland ("Becoming Frida Kahlo"), the film follows her "remarkable rise, cultural influence and controversial legacy," using her life as a lens to explore three decades of profound social, political and technological change, according to a press release.

Rowling wrote "Harry Potter" as a single mother in an Edinburgh cafe, never predicting that the seven-part book series, first published in 1997, would become one of the world's most successful stories, spanning theme parks, films, TV series, video games and a sprawling commercial empire. Related Stories 'Pete' and 'It's All His Fault' among the winners of the inaugural Easterseals Disability Arts and Culture Awards.

In recent years, the author has also entered into some of the most controversial political issues in society. In a press release, the documentary says it will explore how he became "one of Britain's most polarizing public figures". Part II follows Dr. Rowling "as she emerges from behind her make-up to become a powerful political voice." Popular in Variety

"She is admired by supporters as a fearless defender of women's rights and condemned by critics who call her anti-trans. Equally, she separates herself from some of the actors and fans who once championed her work."

Rowling does not participate in the documentary, and instead uses archival material, her writings, and interviews with some of those who worked with her.

Simon Young, Head of BBC History, said: "Thirty years after the publication of the first Harry Potter book, there seems no better time for the BBC to explore one of the great figures of British literature. No cultural history of Britain in the 21st century would be complete without the story of the boy wizard that J.K. Rowling created, the publishing and filmmaking phenomenon she spawned, or the polarizing public figure she has become.

Docu-series tentatively titled “J.K. Rowling will be broadcast on BBC Two, BBC Scotland and iPlayer. BBC Studios handles global distribution.

News of the docuseries comes ahead of HBO's reboot of Harry Potter as a TV series, set to air this Christmas.