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

Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, hails the upcoming HBO reboot 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 striving to include as much source material as possible in Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, he acknowledged inherent constraints. He stated, "There’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film. Our film was two hours and 40 minutes, and the second one was almost as long. The fact that they have the leisure of [multiple] episodes for each book… is 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 more in-depth, faithful adaptation of the novels than the films could achieve. Succession producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod (who also worked on Game of Thrones) are attached to the project.

Casting is currently underway for Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the Dumbledore role, Gary Oldman, the original Sirius Black, humorously suggested his age might be suitable, two decades after his Prisoner of Azkaban debut. However, reports indicate that Mark Rylance is a frontrunner, maintaining the original films' focus on British actors—perhaps unsurprising given J.K. Rowling's reported involvement in the casting process.

Production is slated to begin in Spring 2025, with a potential 2026 release date.