Original Harry Potter Director Says New Hagrid is an “Exact Copy,” Asks Why Reboot is Necessary

Original Harry Potter director Chris Columbus has expressed his doubts about the upcoming HBO reboot of the series. The filmmaker was left questioning the point of a new adaptation after seeing photos of Nick Frost as Hagrid wearing a costume identical to the original films.

August 28, 2025: Chris Columbus, the director who launched the cinematic world of Harry Potter, has publicly expressed his reservations about the upcoming HBO reboot of the beloved series. Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Columbus, who directed the first two films, stated that leaked set photos of Nick Frost as Hagrid have left him questioning the very purpose of the new adaptation.

“I’m seeing these photographs… and he’s wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid,” Columbus said. “Part of me was like: What’s the point? I thought the costumes and everything was going to be different, but it’s more of the same. It’s all going to be the same.”

While his comments reflect a sense of frustration, Columbus admitted to having mixed feelings about the visual similarities. He described the experience as “déjà vu all over again” but also called it “very flattering” that the new series would adopt a design his team created for the late Robbie Coltrane.

The HBO series, which is currently in production and slated for a 2027 debut, is expected to be a faithful, decade-long, season-by-season adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s seven books. Columbus, however, believes the new show faces a unique challenge in trying to differentiate itself from the immensely successful film franchise.

The director also clarified that he is not “jealous” of the new project, stating that he is proud of his work on the first three films and has since moved on. He did, however, express his curiosity about what the new series will bring to the screen, specifically mentioning the character of Peeves the Poltergeist, a fan-favorite ghost who was cast with actor Rik Mayall but ultimately cut from his films.

Chris Columbus is currently busy with his own new project, the film adaptation of Richard Osman’s best-selling novel, The Thursday Murder Club, starring Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan, which was released on Netflix and in select cinemas today.