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

Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, has praised HBO's upcoming reboot series, calling it a "spectacular idea." He believes the series format offers a significant advantage over the constraints of feature films.

In an interview with People, Columbus explained that the limited runtimes of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets prevented a completely faithful adaptation of the books. While the filmmakers "tried to get as much of the book in as possible," the two-hour-plus runtime proved restrictive.

"I think it's a spectacular idea because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film," Columbus stated. "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, 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 aims for a faithful adaptation of the novels, promising a more in-depth narrative than was possible in a two-hour film. Succession producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod are attached to direct and write, with Mylod also having Game of Thrones experience.

Casting is currently underway for Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the role of Dumbledore, original Sirius Black actor Gary Oldman humorously suggested he's now the right age, having debuted in The Prisoner of Azkaban two decades ago.

Mark Rylance is reportedly a top contender for Dumbledore, maintaining the original films' focus on British actors. This is perhaps unsurprising given J.K. Rowling's reported involvement in the casting process.

Filming for the Harry Potter TV series is expected to begin in Spring 2025, with HBO aiming for a 2026 release.