Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter films, has weighed in on the upcoming TV adaptation of the beloved series. He praised the idea, noting that the shift to television offers a significant advantage over film.
Columbus, who directed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), explained that there are limitations in the film format due to time constraints. “Our first film was about two hours and 40 minutes, and the second one was nearly as long,” he told PEOPLE. Despite the team’s efforts to include as much of J.K. Rowling’s book as possible, Columbus acknowledged that fitting hundreds of pages into a film was a challenge.
He went on to express enthusiasm about the TV series’ potential. “The fact that they have the luxury of multiple episodes for each book is fantastic,” Columbus said. “This format allows them to include all the scenes we simply couldn’t fit in the films.”
The new series, announced in 2021, will bring Harry Potter to the small screen for the first time, with new actors stepping into the iconic roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Although the original trio—Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint—will not reprise their roles, Rowling is involved in the production.
Columbus, whose films set the tone for the Harry Potter franchise, expressed his excitement about the adaptation: “I look forward to seeing what they’re trying to do with it. I think it’s great.”
While the series has been adapted into films, video games, a stage production, and theme park attractions, this will be the first time Harry Potter hits television. The adaptation will mark a new era for the franchise, with the involvement of original author J.K. Rowling—whose controversial views on transgender issues have sparked criticism. HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys previously stated that while Rowling is “fairly involved,” her influence on the series has not caused significant public backlash.
One aspect of the series that has sparked considerable discussion is casting, particularly for the role of Lord Voldemort. When asked about the possibility of Cillian Murphy, star of Oppenheimer, playing the Dark Lord, Columbus responded, “Cillian is one of my favorite actors, so that would be amazing.” Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed Voldemort in the original films, agreed, calling Murphy a “fantastic actor” and endorsing the idea.
Casting for the series has already begun, with a call for UK and Ireland-based children aged 9-11 to audition for the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. In June, Succession‘s Mark Mylod was announced as executive producer and director for several episodes, with His Dark Materials‘ Francesca Gardiner as showrunner and lead writer.
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