Chris Columbus Shuts Down HBO’s Harry Potter Series Involvement With Zero Interest
Let’s be real—no one’s surprised Chris Columbus wants nothing to do with HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series reboot. The man already cashed his checks, collected his royalties, and now he’s content to sit back and watch the chaos unfold from a safe distance. In a recent interview with Variety, the director behind the first two films and producer of the third made it crystal clear: he’s done with Hogwarts, done with the Wizarding World, and definitely done with J.K. Rowling’s ongoing dumpster fire of a reputation.
“No, I’ve done it, you saw my version,” Columbus said, as if he were dismissing a pesky fly rather than the most iconic film franchise of the 21st century. At 66, he’s not exactly in a rush to relive his early 2000s glory days. And honestly? Who can blame him? He’s already given us the wholesome, whimsical tone that defined the first two movies—before the franchise got darker, edgier, and more profitable than anyone could’ve predicted.
Still, Columbus admitted he’s a little envious of what HBO’s doing. The streaming giant’s approach—adapting each of the seven books into full seasons—means they can finally include those tiny but beloved details that got cut from the films due to time constraints. Peeves? Yep, he might finally make an on-screen appearance. That whole potions class poisoning subplot? Oh, it’s probably getting the spotlight now. “We could never get that incredible scene into the film,” Columbus lamented, like a man watching his ex live out all the dreams he never got to.
And speaking of nostalgia, Columbus recently had a full-on case of déjà vu when he saw set photos from the HBO series. The scenes being shot in London mirrored exactly what he filmed 20 years ago with a young Dan Radcliffe and a Hagrid stand-in. “It was exactly where we were 20 years ago!” he said, which is both sweet and mildly tragic. The past is literally repeating itself, and this time, it’s with a whole new generation of actors, a new creative team, and a very different cultural landscape.
Which brings us to the elephant in the room: J.K. Rowling. Columbus didn’t shy away from addressing her controversial anti-trans views, which have cast a long shadow over the new series. “I like to sometimes separate the artist from the art,” he said, which is a diplomatic way of saying, “I don’t agree with her, but I still love the books.” He called the situation “sad,” which is generous, considering how many fans have walked away from the franchise entirely.
Despite Rowling’s involvement as an executive producer, HBO CEO Casey Bloys has assured the public that the show won’t be “secretly infused” with her personal views. Sure. We’ll believe that when we see it. But in the meantime, the series is being handled by some heavy hitters from Succession and Game of Thrones, so there’s at least some hope for quality storytelling.
As for casting, the new trio—Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron—is already under intense scrutiny. Throw in veteran actors like John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Hagrid, and you’ve got a mix of fresh faces and seasoned pros. Whether they can pull off the impossible remains to be seen.
So, what’s next? The series is expected to debut in 2026 or 2027, which gives everyone plenty of time to overthink, overanalyze, and overreact to every single casting decision, script leak, and wardrobe malfunction. And if you think the internet’s been brutal so far, just wait until the first trailer drops.
Let’s just say, if this reboot goes sideways, we can’t say we weren’t warned. But hey, at least we’ve got Columbus’s original films to fall back on. And let’s be honest—they’re still the gold standard, even if he won’t be around to defend them.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Variety, New York Post
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