For years, fans of Harry Potter have clung to the hope that the Wizarding World might one day reunite its original stars on the big screen. But according to franchise helmer Chris Columbus, that dream is “never” going to happen — and the reason, he says, comes down to J.K. Rowling’s divisive politics.
In a new interview, Columbus — who directed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets — said adapting the Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint is now off the table.
“It’s never going to happen. It’s gotten so complicated with all the political stuff. Everyone in the cast has their own opinion, which is different from her opinion, which makes it impossible.”
Columbus didn’t mince words about Rowling’s public reputation, particularly her ongoing controversies over trans rights. “I certainly don’t agree with her viewpoint — it’s very sad,” he admitted, adding that while he sometimes separates “the artist from the art,” it’s difficult when Rowling’s politics continue to dominate the discourse around her work.
The director also confirmed that he has no direct relationship with Rowling anymore. “I haven’t spoken to Miss Rowling in a decade or so, so I have no idea what’s going on with her,” he said, though he stressed he remains close with Radcliffe and the other “kids” from the original films.
What Is 'The Cursed Child' About?
The Cursed Child, which premiered on Broadway in 2018, takes place nearly two decades after the end of Deathly Hallows and follows Harry’s second son, Albus Severus, as he wrestles with being sorted into Slytherin House. Columbus once championed a film adaptation, even calling it “a great idea.” But now, he says Rowling’s political baggage — and the difficulty of recasting iconic roles — makes the prospect far less appealing.
“It’s difficult imagining anyone else” stepping into roles made famous by the likes of Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane, he explained. The comments mark a sharp shift from earlier this year, when Columbus spoke optimistically about HBO and Warner Bros. Television’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot series, calling it a “spectacular idea.” After seeing early images, however, he now wonders: “What’s the point?”
While Columbus remains supportive of the younger cast and grateful for the legacy of his original films, he’s clear that a proper reunion of the Wizarding World’s most famous faces is no longer possible — not because the magic has faded, but because controversy has reshaped the story entirely.
