Original Harry Potter Director Calls HBO Reboot a 'Spectacular Idea'

Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, hails the upcoming HBO series as a "spectacular idea," believing its episodic format will allow for a more faithful adaptation of the books.

In an interview with People, Columbus explained the limitations imposed by the films' shorter runtimes. While he and his team "tried to get as much of the book in as possible," the two-hour-plus format inherently restricted their ability to fully realize the source material. He stated, "I think it's a spectacular idea because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film... The fact that they have the leisure of [multiple] episodes for each book, I think that's fantastic. You can get all the stuff in the series that we didn't have an opportunity to do... All these great scenes that we just couldn't put in the films."

Announced in April 2023, the HBO series promises a "faithful adaptation" offering a more "in-depth" narrative than the films could achieve. Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, producers of Succession (with Mylod also having worked on Game of Thrones), are attached to direct and write.

Casting is currently underway for the roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the potential Dumbledore casting, Gary Oldman, who played Sirius Black, humorously suggested he's now the appropriate age, two decades after his Prisoner of Azkaban debut. However, reports indicate that Mark Rylance is a frontrunner for the role, maintaining the original films' focus on British actors. This aligns with J.K. Rowling's reported "fairly involved" participation in the casting process.

Production is expected to commence in Spring 2025, aiming for a 2026 release on HBO.