Do not anticipate to see Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, or Rupert Grint return to the Harry Potter franchise in a Power Awakens-style return, says former franchise director Chris Columbus. Whereas Columbus has directed many beloved movies, comparable to House Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire, he’s possible greatest identified for launching the Harry Potter franchise, as he directed the primary two movies, The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets and techniques. Columbus earned an excessive amount of reward for his time bringing J.Okay. Rowling‘s beloved books to life, and certainly one of his most genius strikes was discovering the three actors who would play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
Previously, Columbus expressed curiosity in directing an adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Youngster, the stage-play legacy sequel to the franchise that might see Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint return to their iconic roles. Nonetheless, the director admits that it is now by no means going to occur. Talking with The Occasions UK, Columbus stated a distinction in opinions between the core trio and J.Okay. Rowling makes a reunion inconceivable. Whereas Columbus does not specify precisely what the political variations are, it’s clear that they revolve round Rowling’s previous transphobic feedback and views on her controversial stance on transgender points. Columbus does not converse to Rowling, however nonetheless maintains contact with the actors he solid, saying:
“It’s by no means going to occur. It’s gotten so difficult with all of the political stuff. Everybody within the solid has their very own opinion, which is completely different from her opinion, which makes it inconceivable…I haven’t spoken to Miss Rowling in a decade or so, so I don’t know what’s happening together with her. I preserve very shut contact with Daniel Radcliffe, and I simply spoke to him just a few days in the past. I nonetheless have an awesome relationship with all the youngsters within the solid.”
J.Okay. Rowling’s “Feud” with the ‘Harry Potter’ Solid
Chris Columbus has already expressed his personal disagreement with Rowling’s beliefs. J.Okay. Rowling has gone from one of the celebrated authors in historical past to one of the controversial resulting from her outspoken opposition to transgender rights, all underneath the guise of defending cisgender girls. Whereas she initially had a superb relationship with the core Harry Potter trio, beginning in 2020, she rapidly turned on them once they spoke out in favor of transgender rights points. In 2020, Radcliffe stated, “It is clear that we have to do extra to assist transgender and nonbinary folks, not invalidate their identities,” with Watson saying, “Trans individuals are who they are saying they’re and should reside their lives with out being always questioned or informed they don’t seem to be who they are saying they’re.” In the meantime, Grint stated, “I firmly stand with the trans group. Trans girls are girls. Trans males are males. We should always all be entitled to reside with love and with out judgment.”
Rowling didn’t reply properly to Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint’s stance, making fixed digs on the authentic three Harry Potter actors. In 2024, she acknowledged that she wouldn’t forgive the actors for sharing their views. Then, in 2025, she retweeted a submit on X that requested, “What actor/actress immediately ruins a film for you?” together with her saying, “Three guesses,” adopted by “Sorry, however that was irresistible,” a transparent reference to Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint. In truth, many assume the most important push to reboot the “Harry Potter” books right into a tv present is to recast Harry, Hermione, and Ron in order to not affiliate the characters with the actors. It additionally provides Rowling an opportunity to see an adaptation of her work with out having to see the faces of individuals she not agrees with.
But the choice to remake Harry Potter is already controversial, with Chris Columbus expressing his personal reservations about rebooting if they’re simply going to make use of all of the movies’ iconography. This has additionally put a highlight on the actors who’ve determined to affix Harry Potter and work with Rowling, regardless of her controversial views being not solely public but in addition a major a part of her model persona now. Elevated curiosity in Harry Potter solely will increase Rowling’s personal pocket books, one she makes use of to assist fund organizations and laws that does lively hurt to the transgender group. Rowling has change into the largest legal responsibility to the Harry Potter franchise, protecting previous favorites from returning and a few followers from leaping ship, in order to not need to assist the author’s campaign.