Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, hails the upcoming HBO series as a "spectacular idea," believing its episodic format will allow for a more faithful adaptation of the books.
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. 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" of the novels, aiming for a more "in-depth" narrative than the films could achieve. Succession producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod are attached to direct and write, the latter having also worked on Game of Thrones.
Casting is underway for the roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the Dumbledore role, original Sirius Black actor Gary Oldman humorously suggested his age might make him a suitable candidate, two decades after his Prisoner of Azkaban debut.
Reports indicate that actor and playwright Mark Rylance is a top contender for Dumbledore, maintaining the original films' focus on British talent. This is perhaps unsurprising given 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.
