Harry PotterDirector Chris Columbus Shares His Thoughts on Upcoming TV Adaptation — PlusThoseVoldemort Rumors (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Chris Columbus; Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in ‘Harry Potter.'.Photo:Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty; Entertainment Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo

Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty; Entertainment Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo

Chris Columbusis excited for the next chapter in theHarry Potteruniverse.

The filmmaker, 66, spoke with PEOPLE exclusively at the Los Angeles premiere ofNosferatu, where he reacted to the news thatHarry Potteris being adapted into atelevision series for HBO, following a successful string of films — two of which Columbus directed.

“I think it’s a spectacular idea, because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film,” Columbus said.

“Our film was two hours and 40 minutes, and the second one was almost as long,” he continued, referencing the runtimes for 2001’sHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneand 2002’sHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, respectively.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in ‘Harry Potter.'.Alamy

Alamy

According to Columbus, he and others who worked on the first twoHarry Potterfilms “tried to get as much of the book in as possible.”

Given that the upcoming HBO project, which is set to begin production soon, will be a series, there will be room to include more fromJ.K. Rowling’s books, including plot points that may have previously been cut from the films.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“The fact that they have the leisure of [multiple] episodes for each book, I think that’s fantastic,” Columbus said. “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.”

The director — who also helmedHome Alone,Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkandMrs. Doubtfire— added, “I look forward to seeing what they’re trying to do with it. I think it’s great.”

Cillian Murphy, Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in ‘Harry Potter.'.C Olivera/Getty; Courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

C Olivera/Getty; Courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

“Well, Cillian is one of my favorite actors, so that would be amazing,” Columbus told PEOPLE. (Fiennes, 62, himself evenbackedMurphy, 48, for the role during an episode ofWatch What Happens Live, where he said, “Cillian is a fantastic actor … I would be all in favor of Cillian.")

All eightHarry Potterfilms are available to stream.

source: people.com