Photo: Peter Mountain/Warner Bros.Twenty years afterHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonepremiered, the film’s director is calling for the original, three-hour cut to be released.On Monday, directorChris Columbus, 63, toldTheWrapthat the original version of the movie was three hours long, and included fan favorite Peeves, a poltergeist with “a seamless blend of humor and malice,” according to author J.K. Rowling.“We knew that the film worked because we did a couple of previews. Particularly a Chicago preview where our first cut was a three-hour cut,” Columbus recalled. “Parents afterwards said it was too long, the kids said it was too short. I thought, well, the kids presumably have a shorter attention span, so this is a good thing.“Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire) previously spoke toColliderabout the three-hour-long cut in 2020, saying at the time, “The audience just ate up the film.“Still, the feedback prompted Warner Bros. to cut out nearly 30 minutes of footage, whittling the theatrical version down to 2 hours and 32 minutes. The lateRik Mayall’sPeeves also met the chopping block.Rik Mayall was cast to play Peeves inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.Mick Hutson/RedfernsColumbus, who directed the first two installments of the wildly successful franchise also told TheWrap, “We have to put Peeves back in the movie, who was cut from the movie!“Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporteron Thursday, the director said he would return to helm a movie adaption ofHarry Potter and the Cursed Childif the stars ever aligned.Columbus said that his interest was sparked after seeing theCursed Childon Broadway, and if the opportunity for a film ever arose, he’d love to seeDaniel Radcliffe,Emma Watson, andRupert Grintreprise their breakout roles.RELATED VIDEO: Daniel Radcliffe Clarifies the ‘Sparks’ Between His ‘Harry Potter’ Costars: ‘We Were Like, 12’“A version ofCursed Childwith Dan, Rupert and Emma at the right age, it’s cinematic bliss. If you’re a film nerd or cinephile, it’s kind of like what J.J. Abrams did withStar Wars…There’s no question if you’re aStar Warsfan, you were moved just seeing them on screen, seeing Harrison Ford as Han Solo again — and Chewy,” he said.He added, “I think that would be the same situation forHarry Potterfans. To able to actually see these adult actors now back in these roles? Oh, yeah. It would be amazingly fun to make that film — or two films.“On Tuesday, HBO Max announced it wasreuniting the original Harry Potter cast, including Columbus, for aHarry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartsspecial that will debut on the streaming platform on Jan. 1. 2022.Radcliffe, Grint and Watson are all set to return, including other cast members such as Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James and Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch “and many more.”
Photo: Peter Mountain/Warner Bros.
Twenty years afterHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonepremiered, the film’s director is calling for the original, three-hour cut to be released.On Monday, directorChris Columbus, 63, toldTheWrapthat the original version of the movie was three hours long, and included fan favorite Peeves, a poltergeist with “a seamless blend of humor and malice,” according to author J.K. Rowling.“We knew that the film worked because we did a couple of previews. Particularly a Chicago preview where our first cut was a three-hour cut,” Columbus recalled. “Parents afterwards said it was too long, the kids said it was too short. I thought, well, the kids presumably have a shorter attention span, so this is a good thing.“Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire) previously spoke toColliderabout the three-hour-long cut in 2020, saying at the time, “The audience just ate up the film.“Still, the feedback prompted Warner Bros. to cut out nearly 30 minutes of footage, whittling the theatrical version down to 2 hours and 32 minutes. The lateRik Mayall’sPeeves also met the chopping block.Rik Mayall was cast to play Peeves inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.Mick Hutson/RedfernsColumbus, who directed the first two installments of the wildly successful franchise also told TheWrap, “We have to put Peeves back in the movie, who was cut from the movie!“Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporteron Thursday, the director said he would return to helm a movie adaption ofHarry Potter and the Cursed Childif the stars ever aligned.Columbus said that his interest was sparked after seeing theCursed Childon Broadway, and if the opportunity for a film ever arose, he’d love to seeDaniel Radcliffe,Emma Watson, andRupert Grintreprise their breakout roles.RELATED VIDEO: Daniel Radcliffe Clarifies the ‘Sparks’ Between His ‘Harry Potter’ Costars: ‘We Were Like, 12’“A version ofCursed Childwith Dan, Rupert and Emma at the right age, it’s cinematic bliss. If you’re a film nerd or cinephile, it’s kind of like what J.J. Abrams did withStar Wars…There’s no question if you’re aStar Warsfan, you were moved just seeing them on screen, seeing Harrison Ford as Han Solo again — and Chewy,” he said.He added, “I think that would be the same situation forHarry Potterfans. To able to actually see these adult actors now back in these roles? Oh, yeah. It would be amazingly fun to make that film — or two films.“On Tuesday, HBO Max announced it wasreuniting the original Harry Potter cast, including Columbus, for aHarry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartsspecial that will debut on the streaming platform on Jan. 1. 2022.Radcliffe, Grint and Watson are all set to return, including other cast members such as Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James and Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch “and many more.”
Twenty years afterHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonepremiered, the film’s director is calling for the original, three-hour cut to be released.
On Monday, directorChris Columbus, 63, toldTheWrapthat the original version of the movie was three hours long, and included fan favorite Peeves, a poltergeist with “a seamless blend of humor and malice,” according to author J.K. Rowling.
“We knew that the film worked because we did a couple of previews. Particularly a Chicago preview where our first cut was a three-hour cut,” Columbus recalled. “Parents afterwards said it was too long, the kids said it was too short. I thought, well, the kids presumably have a shorter attention span, so this is a good thing.”
Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire) previously spoke toColliderabout the three-hour-long cut in 2020, saying at the time, “The audience just ate up the film.”
Still, the feedback prompted Warner Bros. to cut out nearly 30 minutes of footage, whittling the theatrical version down to 2 hours and 32 minutes. The lateRik Mayall’sPeeves also met the chopping block.
Rik Mayall was cast to play Peeves inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.Mick Hutson/Redferns
Columbus, who directed the first two installments of the wildly successful franchise also told TheWrap, “We have to put Peeves back in the movie, who was cut from the movie!”
Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporteron Thursday, the director said he would return to helm a movie adaption ofHarry Potter and the Cursed Childif the stars ever aligned.
Columbus said that his interest was sparked after seeing theCursed Childon Broadway, and if the opportunity for a film ever arose, he’d love to seeDaniel Radcliffe,Emma Watson, andRupert Grintreprise their breakout roles.
RELATED VIDEO: Daniel Radcliffe Clarifies the ‘Sparks’ Between His ‘Harry Potter’ Costars: ‘We Were Like, 12’
“A version ofCursed Childwith Dan, Rupert and Emma at the right age, it’s cinematic bliss. If you’re a film nerd or cinephile, it’s kind of like what J.J. Abrams did withStar Wars…There’s no question if you’re aStar Warsfan, you were moved just seeing them on screen, seeing Harrison Ford as Han Solo again — and Chewy,” he said.
He added, “I think that would be the same situation forHarry Potterfans. To able to actually see these adult actors now back in these roles? Oh, yeah. It would be amazingly fun to make that film — or two films.”
On Tuesday, HBO Max announced it wasreuniting the original Harry Potter cast, including Columbus, for aHarry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartsspecial that will debut on the streaming platform on Jan. 1. 2022.
Radcliffe, Grint and Watson are all set to return, including other cast members such as Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James and Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch “and many more.”
source: people.com
