Chris Columbus Talks Potter
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!