To be completely truthful to Chris Columbus, whose flip remark of “What is the level?” will most likely be reprinted in every single place as proof that he hates “Harry Potter” or one thing, it is a very legitimate query. This is a quick timeline of the sequence: The primary e-book, written by Joanne “J.Okay.” Rowling, hit cabinets in 1997, and the film adaptation directed by Columbus adopted in 2001 (by that point, the primary three books — “Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Chamber of Secrets and techniques,” and “Azkaban” — had been already out). The movie franchise spanned eight motion pictures after it break up the ultimate e-book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” into two movies launched roughly six months aside, but it surely resulted in 2011. As I write this, it is 2025. That is … not an enormous hole, all issues thought of.
I perceive that popular culture is turning into an ourobouros the place all the pieces repeats itself advert nauseum, whether or not Sheldon is younger or we simply do “Harry Potter” once more, however as a sequence this time. Nonetheless, this feels egregious, and it is already attracting controversy due to Rowling’s heavy involvement. Since 2020, Rowling has spent what appears to be the overwhelming majority of her time attacking the transgender neighborhood, particularly transgender ladies, below the guise of “defending” ladies; I am removed from the primary particular person to declare this, however trans ladies are ladies and must be included in any feminist safety provided by these with privilege. It is additionally notable that Daniel Radcliffe and his co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the latter of whom play Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley within the movies, have spoken out towards Rowling’s expressed views … just for her to work on a sequence that recasts the “golden trio” with a brand new set of actors.
What’s significantly attention-grabbing to me is that, in his Selection chat, Columbus even made certain to make clear that he would not assist Rowling’s controversial and admittedly merciless views. “I prefer to typically separate the artist from the artwork, I feel that is essential to do,” Columbus mentioned. “It is unlucky, what’s occurred. I definitely do not agree with what she’s speaking about. But it surely’s simply unhappy, it’s totally unhappy.”
The mere existence of a brand new “Harry Potter” adaptation is, at face stage, form of bizarre, and it appears just like the skeptics amongst us can depend Columbus amongst our ranks. The unique “Harry Potter” motion pictures, in the meantime, are streaming on HBO Max and Peacock now.
