Chris Columbus wants to direct another Harry Potter film

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM follows "magizoologist” Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he studies and searches for various magical creatures. The story, written by Potter author J.K. Rowling, takes place 70 years prior to the events of the first Harry Potter film. While there's plenty to explore in the Potter universe, the director of the original two films, Chris Columbus, is looking to direct another film with the series' original characters.

Chris Columbus on directing another Harry Potter film:

I would love to go back and do another one. Not FANTASTIC BEASTS as much, which I think is going to be amazing, but I would love to do another movie with those three characters — Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I’m just fascinated about what happened to them after the end of the last movie, because then they cut to 18 years ahead. There’s 18 years there of great Harry Potter stories.

I don’t have the courage to actually mention that to [J.K. Rowling] because I have such respect for her. She should do what she wants to do, but I really would love to know what’s in her head about those missing years.

Chris Columbus is not known as being the flashiest director, but you have to give credit where it's due as far as him establishing not only the look of Potter, but the cast as well. Yeah, he followed the first two books to a fault, but it's not like they were anything grand to begin with (Azkaban is really where the series picks up, IMO). Given the epic Harry vrs. Voldemort rivalry established in the 8 films we have, it would probably seem a little underwhelming to have Harry return to battle someone/something else. I suppose it will all come down to Rowling and if she's keen on revisiting those characters. Just man up and ask her, Columbus!

The next film in the Potter-verse, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, is currently scheduled to be released on November 18, 2015.