Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, has lauded HBO's upcoming reboot series as a "spectacular idea," citing its potential for a more faithful adaptation of the books.
In an interview with People, Columbus explained the constraints imposed by the limited runtime of feature films. While he and his team "tried to get as much of the book in as possible" for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the films' approximately two-and-a-half-hour length proved limiting.
"I think it's a spectacular idea because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film," Columbus stated. He highlighted the advantage of a series format: "The fact that they have the leisure of [multiple] episodes for each book... 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 a film could achieve. 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 the roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the possibility of playing Dumbledore, original Sirius Black actor Gary Oldman humorously suggested his age might be suitable, two decades after his Prisoner of Azkaban debut.
Reports indicate that actor and playwright Mark Rylance is a top contender for Dumbledore, 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, with HBO aiming for a 2026 release.
