The Hollywood Reporter has revealed some new information about how J.K. Rowling decided to screen-write the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them films and what her involvement will be.  According to the article, Rowling said that without WB exec Kevin Tsujihara, the deal would not have happened.   The article also revealed that sources are saying talks are ongoing with David Heyman to produce the films.

The Rowling deal, more than a year in the making, calls for the author herself to write the screenplay for the first film in a series that will center on Newt Scamander, a Hogwarts alum and author of the go-to textbook Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them (which makes several appearances in the existing Potter canon). Tsujihara flew to the U.K. several times since the spring to meet with Rowling, who sparked to his demeanor.

“Kevin handled himself really well,” says Ken Kleinberg, Rowling’s L.A.-based attorney, who negotiated the deal with her U.K. agent, Neil Blair. “He was a great listener, and he conveyed sincerity and concern.” Tsujihara’s wooing of the demanding author took some studio insiders by surprise. Many didn’t think celebrity schmoozing was part of his skill set.

[…] Robinov, who is negotiating his exit from the studio, played a key early role in smoothing out a rights issue (Warners had movie rights to characters from the Potter universe but not Newt Scamander).

For Rowling, the most important issue was creative control‚ not an easy ask for a first-time screenwriter. Sources say Warners cannot hire someone else to rewrite her script without her approval — a gamble for the studio and a departure from the Potter films, which were written by such seasoned scribes as Steve Kloves and Michael Goldenberg. Rowling also has script approval on subsequent Fantastic Beasts films.

Thanks SnitchSeeker!