HARRY POTTER Director David Yates Won't Return For Reboot And Says It Will Be A "Challenge" For Max

HARRY POTTER Director David Yates Won't Return For Reboot And Says It Will Be A "Challenge" For Max

The Harry Potter franchise is being rebooted for television, but filmmaker David Yates won't be part of the show. Find his comments on that, and why he believes this adaptation will be a "challenge," here.

By JoshWilding - Oct 25, 2023 05:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Harry Potter
Source: ComicBook.com (via SFFGazette.com)

When HBO Max was rebranded as "Max," Warner Bros. Discovery wasted no time in announcing plans for Harry Potter to be rebooted for the streamer as a TV series. Max is said to have a decade-long plan for the Wizarding World franchise, and new actors will take over these iconic roles for what's been described as an "authentic" retelling of J.K. Rowling's novels.

It goes without saying that the movies remain beloved, but it's been 22 years since The Philosopher's Stone/The Sorcerer's Stone was released in theaters and 12 years since The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 concluded the story.

With that in mind, it does feel like the right time for a reboot, especially after the Fantastic Beasts movies struggled to attract the same huge audience as the main Harry Potter series. 

Daniel Radcliffe has said on a few occasions that he won't be making a cameo appearance and now filmmaker David Yates - who helmed four Harry Potter movies and the Fantastic Beasts trilogy - has made it clear Max will reboot the Boy Wizard without his input. 

"Do you know what? Honestly, I could not, in any conceivable way, get involved," he tells ComicBook.com (via SFFGazette.com). "It's simple: I spent a long time at that school, in those corridors and in those classrooms, and it was an exquisite experience and one I will always treasure. But to go back and do another year or two, for me, I feel I've left it."

"Being in the back of a van with [producer] Lawrence [Grey] in Atlanta of Savannah, hoofing it to try and make a drama, to me, at the moment, is more compelling than going through the hallowed gates of Hogwarts."

"I wish that show so well, it's gonna be amazing to see them re-explore all it can be for the next generation," Yates continued. "I think it'll be a challenge for everyone involved, but it's a very exciting enterprise and I wish it well. It was an amazing experience for me, and I know the other filmmakers who were involved, and it will be for the next generation of filmmakers."

Yates also recently confirmed that, as far as he's aware, Warner Bros. is now done with Fantastic Beasts so his time in the Wizarding World appears well and truly done. 

Harry Potter franchise producer David Heyman has previously said a writer still hasn't been tapped to write the TV series but confirmed the plan is to take a much deeper dive into the books. Presumably, Rowling will take a back seat given the continued controversies surrounding the author.

Are you looking forward to the reboot?

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Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 10/25/2023, 5:13 AM
They should hire the creative team who did the HBO adaptation of The Golden Compass.
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 10/25/2023, 5:28 AM
I wonder how much they are going to change or reimagine...
Harry Potter could be trans, Hermione may be black, at least Ron they can leave alone though, he's already got enough of a disadvantage being a ginger...
ninerstreet
ninerstreet - 10/25/2023, 5:28 AM
I cannot wait! The books are amazing and I’ve said aince watching the films years ago that a long form series ran by someone who understands the characters would be better than trying to cram the stories into two hours. Imagine if game of thrones had been 4 or five two hour films how stripped down it would have been. It’s essential for though that they don’t try to radically redesign Hogwarts and the wizarding world. We (fans) want more time to experience the books in THOSE settings that are now iconic . We don’t want a whole new world designed. If we could go back in time and use the original cast we would all prefer that but as that’s not possible cast the best actors available (unknowns for the kids again iif possible). How about Adam Driver for Snape? So ready for this show !!
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 10/25/2023, 5:53 AM
Harriet Potter incoming.
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 10/25/2023, 6:24 AM
@MarvelousMarty - I'm pretty confident that they won't be messing with Harry's look but, I think we will ALL be doing a double-take on what a "re-imagined" Hermione will be looking like. 🙄
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 10/25/2023, 6:22 AM
Yates finished-up the Potter series in a more-or-less favorable manner but, by the time of the aborted 'Fantastic Beasts' series rolled around, Yates style was sooooooo stale! But apparently, JK felt comfortable with him. So, no one is shedding a tear knowing that he won't be returning to the Potterverse. 🫤
RitoRevolto
RitoRevolto - 10/25/2023, 8:39 AM
This has nothing to do with comic books. 😐
Saga
Saga - 10/25/2023, 11:06 AM
I like him very much he did a great job on the Potter films but on the Fantastic Beasts films his muted gray style got so old quick. I honestly liked thosw movies but it really needed new blood
loemination
loemination - 10/28/2023, 12:29 PM
Why reboot??? Why not a prequel series about the founders of hogwarts? or something else...
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