Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the two-part play by Jack Thorn, JK Rowling and John Tiffany, has experienced ample success. Harry Potter director Chris Columbus is keen on adapting the play to film with the original trio.
Speaking with Variety, Columbus discussed his desire to adapt the play for the big screen. He stated, "I would love to direct The Cursed Child. It’s a great play and the kids [Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint] are actually the right age to play those roles. It’s a small fantasy of mine."
Columbus isn't a newcomer to the Harry Potter franchise; he directed the first two films -- Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets -- and was a producer on the third movie, Prisoner of Azkaban. The director discussed his emotions about making the first movie, explaining, "I had every expectation that I would probably be fired within the first two weeks. I was very, I don’t want to say anxious, but aware of the fact that if I screw this up, I probably will never work again. And I would have millions of fans at my door just infuriated."
Sorcerer's Stone was a marked success, pleasing both fans and critics. Moreover, the film went on win multiple prominent awards, including several Oscars, BAFTAs, Grammys and Hugo Awards, with many nominations in additional.
Warner Bros. has not announced any plans to make a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child film adaptation, but the studio has been busy making a prequel series of films that focuses on Magizoologist Newt Scamander and tells the story of the first wizarding war. While the first movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was a financial success and received generally positive reviews from critics, the second movie, The Crimes of Grindelwald, massively underperformed at the box office, becoming the lowest-grossing Harry Potter film to date, and was largely panned by critics. The third installment in the series, The Secrets of Dumbledore, is scheduled to premiere on April 15, 2022.
The Crimes of Grindelwald isn't the only dark cloud currently hanging over the Harry Potter franchise. Most notably, Rowling has received immense criticism for her anti-transgender views, drawing the ire of both fans and cast members. When asked about how the author's transphobia conflicts with the story's overarching themes of love, empathy and diversity, Columbus said, "I really don’t have any comment on that. I don’t want to get involved. Sorry."
All eight Harry Potter films are available to stream on Peacock.
Source: Variety