When the film adaptation of the Harry Potter books was at the top of Warner Bros.’s priority list in the 1990s, many circulated exciting names for the director’s post. From fantasy masters like Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam and Guillermo del Toro to Jonathan Demme, M. Night Shyamalan and Peter Weir.
The biggest Hollywood director in the running for the job was Steven Spielberg, who had recently worked with Jurassic Park revolutionized modern blockbuster cinema had. Ultimately, however, Spielberg decided against it. In a new interview, he goes into more detail about the decision, as reported by Variety.
Big fantasy start: This is why Steven Spielberg canceled the first Harry Potter film
Looking at his filmography, there is no question that Spielberg would have made a great Harry Potter film. Nevertheless, the director issued a refusal to Warner because he not separated from his family for so long wanted to be. The Harry Potter films were not set in the US but at Leavesden Studios in England.
What it really means when you [der Konflikt zwischen] art and family I found out later when I had already established myself as a filmmaker and was working as a director.
Disney
Steven Spielberg on the set of BFG – Big Friendly Giant
Spielberg has had to retire many times throughout his career decide between film and family. Here private life collided with art.
Kate [Capshaw] and I started a family and had children. So I often had to decide whether to accept a job that would take me four or five months bring to another country, where I would not see my family every day. That was an incisive experience.
Harry Potter is that most prominent projectwhich Spielberg canceled to spend more time with his family.
There are several films that I turned down. This includes the first Harry Potter. This was the ONLY way I could spend these one and a half years with my family and watch my children grow up. I have sacrificed a great franchisebut looking back I’m very glad I did it to be with my family.
Finally, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001, directed by Chris Columbus, who immediately went on to direct the sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Spielberg, meanwhile, has brought to the cinemas AI and Minority Report, both of which were filmed in the USA.
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