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 limitations imposed by the films' shorter runtimes. He and his team "tried to get as much of the book in as possible," but were ultimately constrained by time.
"I think it's a spectacular idea because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film," Columbus stated. He pointed out the significant difference between the roughly 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 are attached as directors and writers, respectively; Mylod also has Game of Thrones credits.
Casting is underway for Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the Dumbledore role, Gary Oldman, who played Sirius Black, humorously suggested his age might be suitable, two decades after his Prisoner of Azkaban debut. However, reports indicate that Mark Rylance is a leading contender, aligning with a likely focus on British actors, perhaps influenced by J.K. Rowling's reported "fairly involved" participation in the casting process.
Production is expected to commence in Spring 2025, aiming for a 2026 release on HBO.
