The Daily Mail reports that Warner Brothers have warned John Buechler, a film director who claims to have invented the character of Harry Potter, that his intention to make a big budget film featuring the character, could result in a legal battle.
In 1986 he made a film,
Troll, featuring a character called Harry Potter Jr. He now intends to do a big budget re-make but Warner Brothers have warned they will defend the copyright. A search for a boy to star in the lead role will begin tomorrow.
Quote:
His partner, Hollywood producer Peter Davy, said: "In John's opinion, he created the first Harry Potter.
"J.K. Rowling says the idea just came to her. John doesn't think so.
"There are a lot of similarities between the theme of her books and the original Troll.
"John was shocked when she came out with Harry Potter."
Jo maintains that she has never seen the film.
Quote:
Warner Bros spokesman Scott Rowe said last night: "If these producers intend to remake Troll they'd better tread carefully not to infringe on our rights."
UPDATE: The story originally posted by the Daily Mail has been removed because J.K. Rowling's reps stated it was "inaccurate and defamatory," according to SyFyPortal.
In an interview with
Troll director John Buechler, SyFy learned that Buechler was not interested in fighting with Rowling over copyright issues.
Quote:
Buechler has not sought any legal remedies over the use of the Harry Potter name or even his magical background from Rowling, and it's unclear if he ever will do so.
According to Buechler himself:
Quote:
Harry Potter Jr. is based on the character first introduced to the world in 1986 in the original motion picture. Harry Potter Jr. is very like the character in the original.
Quote:
Casting has already begun on the film, with Buechler taking his search for a new Harry Potter Jr. to the Internet. He has set up a Web site at
ShareNow - Troll's profile where he hopes to find a boy and a girl between the ages of 11 and 14 to portray both Harry and his sister, Wendy Anne.
Thanks to
BlogHogwarts for the tip!
Warner Brothers warn director over Harry Potter origins (UPDATED) 
please and thank you and dont eat me!
However, I doubt this will go on for long. He's a lame duck. xD 
