March 30, 2000 -

As was announced Tuesday , Chris Columbus ( Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Bicentennial Man ) will be directing Harry Potter And the Sorcerer's Stone for Warner Brothers.??

As soon as the pact was sealed Columbus hopped a plane to Britain for his first face-to-face meeting with the book's author J.K. Rowling.??

As has been rumored, Ms. Rowling will indeed retain a high degree of creative control over the entire filmmaking process, and has been named the film's Executive Producer.? It was rumored that some potential directors had a problem with Ms. Rowling having so much creative control, but Columbus seemed to be happy with the arrangement when he spoke briefly with USA Today .? "As much time as she's willing to devote to the project, I would embrace [her involvement].", said Columbus.? "As the creator of the books, she can really be instrumental in all aspects of the production of this film. "

Columbus and Rowling's first order of business will be to work with casting director Susie Figgis, and audition child actors for the principle cast of Harry Potter, and his two best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.? It does appear that a only young British actors are being considered for the role of Harry, and presumably the other lead roles as well.? "It's essential to find a British boy to play Harry," Columbus says. "We really have to be incredibly faithful and true to the book. Rowling wrote Harry as a British boy, and it's important we honor the original vision."

Columbus also commented on how he plans to achieve some of the visual wizardy in the film, and reveals that he'll likely use a combination of animatronics and CG animation for many of the fantasy characters and creatures, such as the "3-headed dog".

One of the biggest questions that Potter fans have revolves around how the Quidditch matches will be brought to the big screen.? Quidditch is like soccer to the students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but is played "over" the field on super-charged broomsticks (a special effects challenge to say the least).? Columbus has an answer for that as well saying, "The Quidditch match will be one of the visual highlights of the movie.? We will take you places in that match that you've never been before in a theater."

USA Today reports that Warner Bros. executives have said that the budget for the first Potter film is estimated at around $100 million.? Given the Potter-mania that's sweeping the globe, if this film is marketed well they could make that back during the opening weekend! Given the anglo-centric approach that's being taken with this film, I'd wager to say that the UK opening will coincide with the opening in the US.?

Some Potter fans have rejoiced in Columbus' selection as director, and some have fretted that none of his past films have had the style that the Potter film should have.? He does prove that he's passionate about Potter saying, "My children were really the reason I got into it. They started reading the books about a year and a half ago. I've been passionate about this material for so long."

Expect casting news over the next couple of months, as shooting is set to begin in England this Summer.? Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is tentatively set for release over the July 4th weekend next year!