Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, hails the upcoming HBO reboot as a "spectacular idea," citing the potential for a more faithful adaptation of the books. In an interview with People, Columbus explained the constraints of the films' shorter runtimes, stating that while they "tried to get as much of the book in as possible," limitations inherent to filmmaking prevented a fully comprehensive adaptation.
"I think it's a spectacular idea because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film," Columbus noted. He pointed out the significant difference between the approximately two-and-a-half-hour runtime of the first two films and the potential of a multi-episode series per book. "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 promises a "faithful adaptation" offering a more "in-depth" narrative than the films allowed. Succession producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod (who also worked on Game of Thrones) are attached to direct and write.
Casting is underway for Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the role of Dumbledore, Gary Oldman, who played Sirius Black, humorously suggested his age might be suitable, referencing his appearance in The Prisoner of Azkaban two decades ago. However, reports indicate that Mark Rylance is a frontrunner for the part, maintaining the original films' focus on British actors—perhaps unsurprising given J.K. Rowling's reported involvement in the casting process.
Production is expected to commence in Spring 2025, with HBO aiming for a 2026 release.
