What Spielberg’s Harry Potter Would’ve Looked Like (& Why It Didn’t Happen)
Steven Spielberg could have been in the director’s chair for the Harry Potter movie series, and it would have turned out entirely different.
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Steven Spielberg could have been in the director’s chair for the beginning of the Harry Potter movie series, but it would have looked entirely different. Based on the popular novel series by J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. bought the rights with the intention of building a major film franchise. The first installment, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, debuted in 2001, introducing young Daniel Radcliffe as the titular boy wizard. The actor, as well as many of his co-stars, would go on to grow up on the Harry Potter set, reprising their roles for seven sequels across a decade. While Chris Columbus directed the first two movies, this role nearly went to Spielberg.
Warner Bros. officially received the rights to Harry Potter in 1999, and development for the first adaptation got rolling right after. By that point, Spielberg was already one of the most well-known filmmakers in the entertainment industry. With decades of professional work under his belt, Spielberg was beloved for his notable titles like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and The Color Purple. The 1990s were just as remarkable for the writer/director with releases of hits such as Hook, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and Saving Private Ryan. It was truly no surprise that Warner Bros. had their sights set on one of the most accomplished directors who continued to churn out worthy content.
During the development stages, Spielberg was offered the role to direct the debut installment of the Harry Potter film franchise. While in negotiations, the filmmaker partnered with screenwriter Steve Kloves to conceptualize the project for the better part of six months. As time went on, Spielberg and the studio realized that he might not be the right fit for the gig, so he dropped out. Columbus was then hired and worked on two films before passing the torch to Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, and eventually, David Yates. Since declining the offer, Spielberg has explained his decision on multiple occasions about why he stepped away from one of the most popular franchises in recent memory, stating that he toyed with the idea of developing the franchise into an animated series.
Spielberg Wanted The Harry Potter Movies To Be Animated
As one of the co-founders of DreamWorks Pictures, Spielberg believed Rowling’s content would work well under the animation division of the studio. He also thought it could pay off if he combined some of the books, rather than make one movie for each novel. The Warner Bros. president at the time wasn’t on board with the combination of content, nor the animation route, hinting that Spielberg’s departure might have been a mutual decision.
Spielberg also shared that he wasn’t completely sure he was dedicated to a full-on children’s movie. He had a feeling that the Harry Potter movies would become cultural phenomenons based on the popularity surrounding the books, but he only agrees to a project if he feels a personal connection to the subject material. That wasn’t the case with Rowling’s work so instead, Spielberg directed A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Declining the gig certainly didn’t harm his career, considering he continues to develop premier titles.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/harry-potter-steven-spielberg-idea-not-happen-why/