Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, has lauded HBO's upcoming reboot series as a "spectacular idea," citing its potential to more faithfully adapt the source material.
In an interview with People, Columbus explained the limitations imposed by the films' shorter runtimes. While he and his team "tried to get as much of the book in as possible," the constraints of a two-hour-plus film proved insurmountable.
"I think it's a spectacular idea because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film," Columbus stated. "Our film was two hours and 40 minutes, and the second one was almost as long. 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" of the novels, aiming for a more comprehensive narrative than a feature film allows. Succession producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod are attached to direct and write, the latter having also contributed to Game of Thrones.
Casting is currently underway for the roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the possibility of playing Dumbledore, original Sirius Black actor Gary Oldman playfully suggested his age might be suitable, two decades after his Prisoner of Azkaban debut.
Reports indicate that actor and playwright Mark Rylance is a leading contender for Dumbledore, maintaining the original films' emphasis on British talent. This aligns with J.K. Rowling's reported "fairly involved" participation in the casting process.
Production on the Harry Potter TV series is expected to commence in Spring 2025, with HBO aiming for a 2026 release.
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