Harry Potter, the fantasy novel series written by British author J. K. Rowling, has attracted a huge number of young and adult readers and is often considered a cornerstone of modern young adult literature. While the books have already been translated into 85 different languages, the very first movie adaptation of the series grossed over $1 billion, making the $9.6 billion grossing franchise one of the top five highest-grossing film series of all time.
However, while most directors might have loved to work on the wizarding series, there was this one filmmaker who refused to work on the famous first Harry Potter film, although he regretted his decision later.
Baz Luhrmann, the director of Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, once revealed that he regrets turning down the chance to direct the 2001 movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Baz Luhrmann opened up on his decision of turning down the first Harry Potter movie
In an interview with Graham Norton, Australian director, producer, and screenwriter Baz Luhrmann said that he was offered the job to direct the first Harry Potter movie, but turned it down because he wasn’t familiar with the books and didn’t think it would be a big success.
“The first one came along, and they rang me, and while I love the pictures and the books now, then I thought ‘What’s that?’. And said: ‘Well, that sounds interesting, but I’m thinking of doing a reinvention of the modern musical’, and that was Moulin Rouge!”
Luhrmann is best known for his films like Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), and The Great Gatsby (2013). A closer look at his work reveals that Luhrmann’s films are made up of lavish sets, bold colors, and over-the-top visuals. Hence, it’s no surprise that the filmmaker was not exactly inspired by the story of a teenage wizard.
Over the years, Luhrmann has won numerous awards for his work, including an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Moulin Rouge!
Baz Luhrmann revealed that he regrets passing on the opportunity
During the conversation, Luhrmann added that he now realizes that he was an “idiot” for turning down the job. “So I’m an obvious idiot because I should have taken Harry Potter,” he continued.
Christopher Columbus landed the opportunity to direct the first two Harry Potter movies, which were both huge successes. The films went on to spawn a successful franchise that has grossed billions of dollars worldwide.
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However, it’s interesting to think about how different the Harry Potter movies might have been if Luhrmann had directed them. Since his films are known for their bold colors, lavish sets, and over-the-top visuals, one might wonder if that might have translated to the world of Harry Potter.
The Harry Potter franchise is available for streaming on Max.
Source: Toronto Sun, Numbers
