Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - New Director... (1 Viewer)

[John Berggren]

A story at Cinescape.com indicates that Chris Columbus will not be directing the third film in the Harry Potter series. They indicate he's returning to the States for family reasons after finishing HP2.
Cinescape suggests that Alfonso Cuaron of Y Tu Mama Tambien is the leading candidate, however unlikely that seems.
I seem to remember Stephen Speilberg indicating that he'd like to direct the THIRD Harry Potter picture specifically. Perhaps he'll get his chance.

 

[Bryan Tuck]

I know all this is still on the drawing board, but I think Cuaron might be a good choice. His Little Princess is arguably one of the best children's films of the last decade. It would probably be a shift in style, but who knows? It might work.

 

[Edwin Pereyra]

From Variety:

Inside Move: The trouble with 'Harry' . . .
5th book behind sked, Cuaron may helm third pic

By CLAUDE BRODESSER, JONATHAN BING

HOLLYWOOD -- With "Harry Potter" the hottest franchise in franchise-hungry Hollywood (if you don't believe that, ask any hierarch at AOL Time Warner), why is everything with the property so up in the air?
Book five in J.K. Rowling's mega-selling series is way behind schedule, much to the agitation of publishers and booksellers. And the studio is eyeing some wild cards to take over directing chores on the "Potter" pics' third installment.

One name that can safely be crossed from the list: Chris Columbus, who directed both "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" as well as next year's sequel, " Chamber of Secrets." He's told the studio he wants to bring his family home after living in Blighty for more than a year.

Alfonso Cuaron, who helmed the Spanish-lingo hit "Y tu mama tambien," is high among the list of candidates. The Mexican director, known for both lush visuals and adult sophistication in pics like "Great Expectations," also directed the kid-friendly "A Little Princess," based on Frances Hogdson Burnett novel.Cuaron recently received a copy of scribe Steve Kloves' new (and carefully controlled) script for round three in the series , "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and is in conversations with Warner Bros. production topper Lorenzo di Bonaventura about his ideas for the pic.

Cuaron is also attached to helm an adaptation of P.D. James' 1992 "The Children of Men."

His reps at Endeavor declined to comment, as did the studio.

Meanwhile, Potter fans are puzzling over the unfinished fifth book, tentatively titled "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

Scholastic, which has sold nearly 70 million copies of the first four books, was hoping to publish the book in July. But Rowling has told her publishers she needs more time to finish it, prompting Scholastic to reassure antsy shareholders to expect the book by June 2003.

Yes, Cuaron might actually be a good choice.

~Edwin

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

Cuaron might be a good choice; I'll throw in a vote for Agnieszka Holland (director of The Secret Garden).

I think Walter Murch would be the best choice, however. He made what I consider to be the *best* children's fantasy film of the past 30 years, RETURN TO OZ.

 

[Guy Martin]

Personally I've always felt Terry Gilliam would be the ideal director for the series. He has the necessary wit, and Munchausen showed that he can handle a childrens FX fantasy film with aplomb. Supposedly he was considered for the first film but turned it down.
- Guy

 

[Ryan Jameson]

Gillaim probably doesn't want to work with children again. He's done so in Time Bandits, Baron, and Twelve Monkeys. And judging from his reactions in the Twelve Monkeys documentary, it doesn't look like he enjoys it much.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Besides, he'd probably screw with the source material too much... From what I've heard of Cuaron's work, he sounds like a good choice.

 

[Dan Brecher]

It would probably be a shift in style, but who knows?

Well, Azkaban itself (as a book) was a bit of a shift so much as it being arguably the darkest book of the current four on sale. Chamber of Secrets set the stage for the whole series getting progressively darker, bat damn, Azkaban really put some spooky images into my head. Wonderful book.

Dan

 

[Coressel]

Personally I've always felt Terry Gilliam would be the ideal director for the series.

YES! I'm happy to hear someone else say this... I knew nothing at all about Harry P. when I was dragged to see this thing. I thought it was a lot of fun, but would have been more interesting and even funnier in Gilliam's hands.

It's probably just thing Terry G. needs to get the financial backing he seems to be currently lacking.

 

[Sam Davatchi]

A story at Cinescape.com indicates that Chris Columbus will not be directing the third film in the Harry Potter series.

Thank God! I want to see Spielberg direct one.

Little Princess is also one of the early DVDs that I bought!

 

[Coressel]

That's interesting... My only problem with the film was the fact that it was too Spielbergian. Gilliam's dark humor seems to be perfectly suited to this material.

 

[Ryan Jameson]

Besides, he'd probably screw with the source material too much... From what I've heard of Cuaron's work, he sounds like a good choice.

This is probably why it would never happen. Gilliam would most likely require the freedom to change the story to suit his tastes, and I don't think Rowling would ever let that happen. It's a shame really, as a bit of change is I think what this story needs. The first film felt too much like a carbon copy of the book, and suffered because of it.

 

[John Berggren]

For films based on books that I've read, I tend to prefer they remain as faithful to the original material as possible. I felt the only thing lacking in the first film was additional scenes. However, it was clear that WB was not going to let it out at 3 hours. I don't think children who love the book would want it changed either.

 

[Ryan Jameson]

I felt that they tried to contain too many scenes from the book, and it suffered because of it. It felt cluttered. Now, take as an example Lord of the Rings. It excised large portions of the text, added in some new scenes that made it flow better as a film, and yet still remained incredibly true to the themes of the book. Truly amazing what they did with that story.

 

[andrew markworthy]

In the name of all things holy, please keep Gilliam away from Harry Potter! Sorry, but I personally cannot stand his work, and I always fast-forward through his ghastly cartoons when watching recordings of Monty Python. Apologies, Gilliam-lovers (and I know there are a lot of you!) but I had to say it. There, I feel better now.

On a tangent, I'm intrigued to hear that 'The Children of Men' is being proposed as a film. The book is brilliant.

 

[TheoGB]

I'd really like to see Spielberg shoot the third one. A question, though: I heard Azkabahn would be shot as two films in order to fit it all in. Anyone know if this is true?

 

[Yee-Ming]

I heard Azkabahn would be shot as two films in order to fit it all in. Anyone know if this is true?

I thought this was speculation in relation to the 4th book Goblet of Fire, which was a rather hefty book and covered a lot of ground that can't be covered in one 2.5hr movie. so there were suggestions that this literally be divided into 2 parts, one released in summer and the second part later in the year.

 

[Vickie_M]

Quote:

YES!!! This is one of my all-time favorite films and has been since the first time I saw it in the theater (and I WAS an adult when it was released). (Kudos to the wonderful Anchor Bay for releasing it on DVD!) Poor Walter Murch. RTOz bombed and he never directed another movie.

 

[Dan Brecher]

I thought this was speculation in relation to the 4th book Goblet of Fire, which was a rather hefty book and covered a lot of ground that can't be covered in one 2.5hr movie. so there were suggestions that this literally be divided into 2 parts, one released in summer and the second part later in the year.

Columbus had the idea to shoot them back to back and actually release them only a month apart. I actually find Goblet of Fire the easisest to hack down to a good 2 and a half hour running time. There is so SO much Quidditch in book 4, obviously you've got the issue of the world cup, but they could edit various bits down very easily without damaging the story.

Dan

 

[John Berggren]

I too think that book 4 needed editing in book format, I would have no problem with some editing to make it a film. On the other hand, I'd be perfectly happy to watch it as 2 2 hour films. It would certainly be an interesting experiment on WB's part.