Harry Potterdirector Chris Columbus has given his thoughts on the TV reboot and how it might differ from the movies. Columbus first rose to prominence directingHome Alone, and its sequelHome Alone 2, before helmingHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonein 2001, and its follow-upHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secretsin 2002. The movies were adapted from the first two novels of J. K. Rowling’s beloved YA fantasy series, following the adventures of boy wizard Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. HBO is planning aHarry PotterTV remakethat’s expected to drop in 2026.
In an interview withEmpiremagazine, the director opened up on the approach he felt the TV show could take to adapt the series, and how this might differ from the movies. Columbus discussed how the show would have theopportunity to explore characters that he simply wasn’t able to fit into the moviesand speculated that the show would either have to embrace the style of the movies or develop its own unique style to separate it. Check out his full comments below:
Look, I wish them luck. With the TV series, you have the opportunity to basically film the entire book. So that’s exciting. They can get into things that we could never get into - [like] the character of Peeves, who we tried to put in the first film. They’ve got a bit of a challenge, I think.
There’s a certain stylistic quality to those films you either have to depart [from] or you have to embrace. Do they completely rethink the look of Hogwarts? Do they use the John Williams theme? I don’t know how you do that. But I look forward to seeing it.
What These Comments Could Mean For TheHarry PotterTV Show
The Series Will Seek To Respect The Films Whilst Being Its Own Entity Too
Columbus’s comments shine a light onhow theHarry PotterTV remake differs from the moviesand the sort of direction the series could take when it comes to adapting the story. While the show will look to respect the legacy of the movies,it’s important to understand that it will be an adaptation of the novels. However, one of the key elements of the films was their stylistic nature, and it will be important for the show to find a style that fits with the franchise, as well as standing on its own.
Harry Potter TV Show Is Fixing 1 Of The Movies' Biggest Wasted Opportunities (But It’s Still Challenging)
The Harry Potter TV show is officially bringing to life a character cut from the movies, but as exciting as this is, it’s also quite challenging.
Some of the iconic elements of theHarry Potterfilm franchise, such as the theme song, Hogwarts castle, and even some of the casting choices, will need to be carefully thought out in regard to the TV format. As Columbus states, the TV series will allow HBO to adapt the entirety of the books,which could make for a more immersive and long-form experience for viewers, and the style of the show will play a huge role in this. Furthermore, this means that plot points and characters removed from the movies will have a chance to materialize on the screen due to the show’s longer runtime.
Our Verdict On The Approach TheHarry PotterTV Show Will Take
Long-Form Storytelling & Rowling’s Involvement Bodes Well For The Show
There are many factors theHarry PotterTV show will need to get right, and the long-form nature of TV shows provides a storytelling platform that allows for a rich exploration of the source material. Furthermore, Rowling’s involvement bodes well for the creative steps the show will look to take and should appease Potterheads who will be hoping for an adaptation as faithful and skilled as the movies. TheHarry PotterTV show will be hard-pressed to achieve the legacy of Columbus’s movies, but HBO will be optimistic about its chances.
Harry Potter
Cast
Harry Potter is HBO’s remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling’s popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.
