“Harry Potter” is one of the most beloved franchises, and now there’s an upcoming show in the works. So far, the main cast has been set, and some fans are excited while others have their doubts. Now, the director of the original film, Chris Columbus, is opening up about his thoughts on the HBO series.
Columbus recently appeared on the “The Rest is Entertainment” podcast. During the episode, he was asked for his opinion on the “Harry Potter” show. Columbus said, “Part of me was like: What’s the point?”
He continued and said that one of the actors, Nick Frost, is “wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid.” The “Harry Potter” director went on, “I thought the costumes and everything was going to be different, but it’s more of the same. It’s all going to be the same.”
Columbus then said, “It’s very flattering for me, because I’m like, that’s exactly the Hagrid costume that we designed. So part of it is really exciting, so I’m excited to see what they’re going to do with it. Part of it is sort of deja vu all over again.”
Regarding whether he was envious of not working on the series, the famed director stated, “It’s time to move on. I’m really proud of those films, the first three that I was involved with, and I’m moving on.”
Columbus Opened up in 2021 About Leaving ‘Harry Potter’
Many diehard “Harry Potter” fans are aware of who directed which films from the beloved franchise. Because of this, some wonder why he stepped away from the director’s chair after the first couple of movies. Columbus spoke about this in a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The “Harry Potter” director stated that he was simply tired after putting in the work it took to bring the movies to life. According to him, “I could barely speak.” He also said he felt “emotionally and physically exhausted.”
He added, “I wasn’t seeing my kids, who were young at the time, growing up. I was missing dinners with them. I thought, ‘I can’t do another six, seven, eight years of this. My kids will grow up, and I’ll never get to know them.”
In taking a step back, Columbus served as an executive producer on 2004’s “Prisoner of Azkaban.” Alfonso Cuarón directed the film.
He Remains Active in Hollywood
Columbus remains a notable figure in Hollywood, both as a director and producer. His latest film, “The Thursday Murder Club,” will be available on Netflix starting August 28. The cast includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, and more.
He also served as a producer on the 2024 hit film “Nosfertu,” as well as 2011’s “The Help” and several other notable successes.
