BBC to ‘renew’ JK Rowling’s Strike series after apology

The BBC is reportedly preparing an adaptation of JK Rowling’s latest film Hit A novel focusing on the fall from grace and eventual murder of a children’s author.

Deadline’s International Investigations Editor Jake Kanter reported Tuesday (March 7) that the BBC is preparing a sequel to the crime drama Hit for a sixth series.

Based on Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series of books, which she writes under the pen name Robert Galbraith, the novels and television series that followed follow private investigator Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin Ellacott.

Kanter says that although a “deal is pending,” the BBC is said to be excited about another series.

The new series would follow the plot of the latest novel, The inky heartwhich was published in August.

The book focuses on Edie Ledwell, the creator of a popular YouTube animated series, who is plagued by allegations of using racist and ableist tropes in her work and is killed.

Striking similarities to the life of JK Rowling

Many critics were quick to point out the obvious parallels between Rowling’s own controversial experiences, after making countless comments that some viewed as anti-trans, and the plight of Edie in the novel. But Rowling told The Independent that the book’s plot “wasn’t really” inspired by her own life.

The announcement comes just weeks after the BBC was forced to apologize to the Harry Potter Author who was accused of transphobia in a radio show. In February, a discussion about video games Hogwarts legacy took place on BBC Radio Scotland Good morning Scotland. During the show, trans writer Carrie Marshall said she boycotted her because she believed she was funding “the anti-trans movement.”

Numerous complaints were made about the comments, and the BBC apologized that editorial standards were not met.

“The debate raised the issue of gender identity and allegations were made about JK Rowling’s views,” the BBC said in a statement. “We accept that the program has not challenged these claims and acknowledge that our contributors have presented their opinions as facts.”

JK Rowling has always denied that she is transphobic.

The BBC has been contacted for comment.