For longtime fans of Harry Potter, one of the most successful media franchises the world has ever seen, it's almost hard to believe that the beloved series has just celebrated the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone's release. Now that seminal film's director, Chris Columbus, has said that he wants to see his original three-hour cut of the movie released, and it includes never-before-seen footage.
Before it was released in theaters in 2001, Colombus' original cut of the first Harry Potter film was previewed by Warner Bros. at test screenings. Fans who have read the books by J.K. Rowling will know that a prominent character is missing from the cut that made it to the big screen, in the form of Hogwarts ghost Peeves. With the recent announcement of the Harry Potter cast reuniting on HBO Max early next year, the movies are being reappraised once more.
Columbus spoke to The Wrap on his experiences making the first Harry Potter movie, saying he could see that the film was connecting with viewers when his original three-hour cut was previewed in Chicago. He said, "Parents afterward 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.” However, nearly half an hour of footage was removed before the theatrical release. Though it's not the first time Colombus has spoken about the three-hour cut, this was the first time he has said he would like to see it released, and fans are agreeing. However, The Wrap says a representative for Warner Bros. has said they're unaware of any plans to release the cut, but rumors are already appearing about what ghosts could appear in Harry Potter Hogwarts: Legacy, the upcoming action-RPG game.
Clearly, being the first to adapt such a popular book was no easy task. It is somewhat taken for granted that the Harry Potter cinematic franchise is such a successful book-to-screen adaptation. Columbus' effort is widely regarded as having been a great success and is arguably the most faithful adaptation of the source material out of the eight movies. Famously, director Zack Snyder's own cut of Justice League came about because of many fans' hard campaigning, suggesting it may be possible for the same to happen for the Colombus cut.
Warner Bros. has released a few different home video versions of Sorcerer's Stone and the "Ultimate Edition" (a version that runs seven minutes longer), but none have included the beloved mischief-maker Peeves. It seems an odd exclusion when his escapades were such a feature in the book series. British comedian and actor, the beloved Rik Mayall, was cast as Peeves and even shot the scenes. Since his untimely death in 2014, it seems a shame to keep unseen footage of him under wraps, footage that could be released in tribute to the much-loved actor.
With the legacy of Harry Potter ever-enduring, new footage would undoubtedly have fans flocking to watch, and it seems a missed opportunity on the part of Warner Bros.
All eight Harry Potter films are currently available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: The Wrap