Harry Potter director Chris Columbus has shared his views on the continuing controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling, and he’s keeping it honest but calm.
Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films, told that he doesn’t agree with the views of J.K. Rowling and finds the entire situation “very sad.” He said, “I like to sometimes separate the artist from the art. It’s unfortunate, what’s happened. I certainly don’t agree with what she’s talking about. But it’s just sad, it’s very sad.”
Rowling, who is now 60, has faced extreme criticism for many years due to her anti-trans comments. Even other film stars such as Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint have publicly criticized her views.
The backlash gained momentum earlier this year when J.K. Rowling supported the ruling of the U.K. Supreme Court that excluded transgender women from the legal definition of women.
Her stance has started big debates around the future of the Wizarding World, especially with HBO working on a new Harry Potter series and releasing new audiobooks. HBO chief Casey Bloys has told fans not to worry. He said that there is no influence of Rowling’s personal opinions on the new series.
Chris Columbus has no plans to return to Hogwarts. When asked if he would join the new HBO show, he laughed and said, “No, I’ve done it. You saw my version. There’s nothing left for me to do in the world of Potter.”
He also admitted that he is a little jealous of the TV reboot because it will have more time to show storylines he couldn’t fit into the films, like Peeves the poltergeist. “I’m sure it’ll be in the HBO series,” he said. “For me, it’s a chance to finally bring all those missed moments to life.”
