J.K. Rowling to produce 'The Casual Vacancy' miniseries for HBO

LONDON, April 23 (UPI) -- J.K. Rowling plans to produce an HBO miniseries adaptation of her novel, The Casual Vacancy.

Rowling's Bronte Film and Television production company will co-produce the new series alongside HBO and the BBC. The author's longtime literary agent and partner at Bronte, Neil Blair, will serve as executive producer.

The Casual Vacancy was Rowling's first published work after the Harry Potter series came to an end in July 2007. The book debuted in September 2012 to mixed reviews, but more than six million copies have been sold worldwide.

The novel follows various residents of small English town Padford after the city's beloved Parish Councillor Barry Fairbrother is found dead. Conflict ensues when several citizens begin to vie against one another for his seat on the council.

The Casual Vacancy miniseries will be three hours long, and production begins this summer in England.