It is set to be one of the most expensive television series of all time with a budget in excess of £100 million.
But HBO executives will want to close their ears, after the original Harry Potter director questioned the decision to remake the JK Rowling novels, asking: ‘What’s the point?’
Chris Columbus, who directed the first three movie adaptations starring Daniel Radcliffe as the boy wizard, was left puzzled after seeing pictures of the HBO series filming scenes with Potter’s mentor Rubeus Hagrid in London.
While the part is now played by Nick Frost in the new series, the director was struck by how similar Hagrid’s costume and body double were to those used by actor Robbie Coltrane in the original movies.
Columbus, 66, told the Rest Is Entertainment podcast: ‘So, I’m seeing these photographs… and he’s wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid. Part of me was like: “What’s the point?”
‘I thought everything was going to be different, but it’s more of the same. It’s all going to be the same.’
The director of the original Harry Potter films has no doubt left HBO executives reeling after he asked of the new series: ‘What’s the point?’
Chris Columbus (pictured), who directed the first three movie adaptations, was left puzzled after seeing pictures of the HBO series filming scenes with Potter’s mentor Rubeus Hagrid in London
He added: ‘It’s very flattering for me because that’s exactly the Hagrid costume that we designed. So part of it is really exciting – I’m excited to see what they’re going to do with it. But part of it is sort of déjà vu all over again.’
The new TV series, which began filming this week and is due to air in 2027, is a reboot of Rowling’s seven-book series and is a full-scale, decade-long adaptation that promises to stick far more closely to the original storylines than the blockbuster films.
Columbus, who recently described Rowling’s transgender views as ‘very sad’, was also asked if he was envious that the American media giant would be able to adapt the Harry Potter books on a larger scale than the movies.
He replied: ‘I’m not jealous. I’m so beyond it. I did it. My feeling is, “okay, I’ve done that, it’s time to move on”. I’ve always had issues with the idea of franchise after franchise.
‘I feel like I’ve done it. I’m really proud of those films – the first three that I was involved with – and I’m moving on.’
Last week, 7ft 2in body double Anthony Wallyn was seen wearing an animatronic head of Nick Frost and was filmed walking through busy London streets with Dominic McLaughlin, 11, who plays Harry Potter in the new series.
He was unveiled in May, alongside Arabella Stanton who will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
The young trio are joined by A-listers John Lithgow, 79, as Professor Albus Dumbledore, Paul Whitehouse, 67, as school caretaker Argus Filch, and Paapa Essiedu, 34, as Severus Snape as they film at Warner Bros’s 200-acre studio in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.
The director was struck by how similar Hagrid’s costume and body double were to those used by actor Robbie Coltrane in the original movies (Body double wearing an animatronic head)
The new actors playing the Weasley family in the upcoming Harry Potter series, set to hit screens in 2027
J.K. Rowling’s involvement in the series as executive producer has attracted controversy from fans over her views on transgender issues.
The author, 59, who created the fantasy novels on which the show is based, previously took to X to rave about the first two episodes after confirming that while she did not pen them herself, she did work closely with the writers.
She said: ‘I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!’.
Meanwhile, HBO previously defended Rowling’s involvement in a statement, saying: ‘We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance.
‘JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.’