In an attempt to shape the destiny of the iconic Harry Potter franchise, Warner Bros had initially levied the responsibility to helm the project on acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg. However, the legendary filmmaker known for his visionary storytelling made a choice that altered the course of cinematic history.
Prioritizing family time, Steven Spielberg turned down the opportunity to sit on the director’s chair for the first Harry Potter movie. This ultimately paved the way for Chris Columbus to become synonymous with the magical world of Hogwarts. And in hindsight, considering the lengths that Columbus went, to land the job, made him even more apt for the role.
Steven Spielberg was Offered the Chance to Helm the First Harry Potter Movie
When the monumental task of adapting J.K. Rowling’s beloved literary phenomenon for the silver screen began, Warner Bros required a director who could flawlessly capture the depth of the wizarding world while bringing the intricate characters and profound themes, to life.
Therefore, Steven Spielberg seemed like the kind of director who could helm the first movie, given his experience in crafting cinematic masterpieces that resonated across generations.
However, after Steven Spielberg was initially approached to helm the first Harry Potter movie, the filmmaker surprisingly turned down the offer. Marking an unexpected turn for the franchise, Spielberg had made the heartfelt decision to step away from the project to focus on his family.
According to his interview shared by Business Insider, the filmmaker was heard citing a desire to focus on personal commitments and watch his children grow up, as a reason for refusing the franchise.
There were several films I chose not to make. They offered me ‘Harry Potter’ and I chose to turn down the first ‘Harry Potter’ to basically spend the next year and a half with my family, my young kids growing up. So, I sacrificed a great franchise – which today looking back I’m very happy to have done – to be with my family.
Thereafter, Steven Spielberg‘s departure once again left Warner Bros in search of a director who could helm the franchise’s inception with utmost passion and precision. Enter Chris Columbus – a filmmaker whose determination and passion for the magical realms of storytelling mirrored that of J.K Rowling herself. Despite not being the first choice, and in fact being the last filmmaker to meet with the studio, Columbus did something phenomenal to seize the opportunity that eventually made him the right choice for the project.
Chris Columbus’ Dedication to Secure the Role of Harry Potter Director Spoke Volumes
Chris Columbus’ journey towards the Harry Potter franchise has been one of the most inspiring tales in the history of cinema. The director not only surpassed the likes of Steven Spielberg and several other filmmakers but ended up being the perfect candidate for the job. Well, it all started after he read Rowling’s Harry Potter books, and was overcome with the desire to direct them once Warner Bros announced their plans for the film adaptation.
During an interview with THR, Chris Columbus thus reflected on how he went to great lengths to land the job. Renowned for his directorial work on family-oriented classics such as Home Alone, Columbus had initially urged his agent to get a meeting with Warner Bros.
But that was just the beginning of his intensive planning and hard work to leave a “lasting impression” on the studio, considering how he was the last among 25 other directors who had previously expressed their eagerness to direct.
It was about a 130-page document-slash-screenplay. I stayed up all night for like 10 days doing it, and then I walked into the Warner Bros. conference room. I remember sitting at the far end of a coffee table, and the chair felt like it was six inches shorter than everyone else’s chair. I felt like a sixth-grader in a room full of principals, vice principals, and teachers. I was terrified.
Being the last director to meet with Warner Bros, Chris Columbus wanted to be the “freshest person in their memory”. Therefore, in order to do so, Columbus wrote a director’s version of Steve Kloves’ script to explain his vision for the film, during his 2 weeks waiting period.
Eventually, the director met with Warner Bros and had an “impassioned 45-minute talk”, wherein he explained his vision and gave the director’s version of the script. Finally, after an excruciating wait of about six or seven weeks, Columbus got the job.
They were kind of shocked because no one in Hollywood writes anything for free. This was just my one shot [at] getting the Harry Potter job. But I left it with them. Basically, went home and waited about six or seven weeks and I didn’t hear anything. Then finally, I heard from the studio that I would be getting the job with one caveat.
After officially getting the job of helming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Chris Columbus landed a meeting with J.K. Rowling and producer David Heyman in Scotland. Therein, sharing a similar vision with the author, Columbus finally knew that he had the job.
And now, in retrospect, while Steven Spielberg’s initial involvement seemed intriguing, Columbus’ impassioned pursuit of the directorial role proved instrumental in shaping the Harry Potter franchise.
Harry Potter films are available on Max.
