Summary
TheHarry Potterreboot doesn’t interest the director who helmed half of the movie adaptations and everyFantastic Beastsfilm, David Yates. The filmmaker explained why he doesn’t see himself returning for the developing Max TV series.
TheHarry Potterbook series written by J.K. Rowling was adapted into eight feature films that performed spectacularly at the box office, with every film in the series grossing at least $750 million. The mainline film adaptations were followed by the less well-receivedFantastic Beaststrilogy of films. WhileThe Secrets of Dumbledoreseemingly spelled the franchise’s endfor some, IP custodians Warner Bros had a different idea and announced a rebooted adaptation, this time as a series for its streaming platform Max.
Since then, there have been rumors surrounding the return ofHarry Potterfranchise darling David Yates, who directed the second half of the mainline film trilogy andtheFantastic Beastsfilm series. In a recent interview withComicBook, the accomplished director was probed about potentially working on the upcomingHarry Potterreboot. “Do you know what? Honestly, I could not, in any conceivable way, get involved,” Yates revealed. “It’s simply: I spent a long time at that school, in those corridors, and in those classrooms, and it was an exquisite experience and one I will always treasure. But to go back and do another year or two, for me, I feel I’ve left it.”
Yates, whose understanding and care in the role ensured thatHarry Potterremained great despite switching directors, also specified he had other projects in mind. “Being in the back of a van with [producer] Lawrence [Grey] in Atlanta of Savannah, hoofing it to try and make a drama, to me, at the moment, is more compelling than going through the hallowed gates of Hogwarts.” He also added, “I wish that show so well, it’s gonna be amazing to see them re-explore all it can be for the next generation. I think it’ll be a challenge for everyone involved, but it’s a very exciting enterprise and I wish it well. It was an amazing experience for me, and I know the other filmmakers who were involved, and it will be for the next generation of filmmakers.”
The excitement surrounding theHarry Potterreboot on Max can be attributed mainly to the fans. While the film adaptations are well-liked and hold up well to modern viewing, many fans expectaHarry Potterseries will be a more accurate adaptationof the source material, taking advantage of the longer format to flesh out some characters and concepts that the film format’s constraints couldn’t. While Yates is a well-liked figure in the fandom, he’s also more experienced with films than television projects. Additionally, after the less encouraging experience of directing theFantastic Beastsfilms, Yates seems ready and resolved to move on to other things.
TheHarry Potterfranchise is currently available for streaming on Max.
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