Summary
- David Yates, the director of multiple Harry Potter films, has expressed that he is not interested in returning for the upcoming Harry Potter reboot series on Max.
- Yates explained that he has already spent a significant amount of time in the Harry Potter universe, and feels that he has moved on from it.
- Despite his decision not to be involved, Yates wishes the upcoming series well and believes it will be an exciting enterprise for the next generation of filmmakers.
The Harry Potter reboot doesn't interest the director who helmed half of the movie adaptations and every Fantastic Beasts film, David Yates. The filmmaker explained why he doesn't see himself returning for the developing Max TV series.
The Harry Potter book 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-received Fantastic Beasts trilogy of films. While The Secrets of Dumbledore seemingly spelled the franchise’s end for some, IP custodians Warner Bros had a different idea and announced a rebooted adaptation, this time as a series for its streaming platform Max.
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Since then, there have been rumors surrounding the return of Harry Potter franchise darling David Yates, who directed the second half of the mainline film trilogy and the Fantastic Beasts film series. In a recent interview with ComicBook, the accomplished director was probed about potentially working on the upcoming Harry Potter reboot. "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 that Harry Potter remained 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 the Harry Potter reboot 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 expect a Harry Potter series will be a more accurate adaptation of 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 the Fantastic Beasts films, Yates seems ready and resolved to move on to other things.
The Harry Potter franchise is currently available for streaming on Max.
Source: ComicBook