Chris Columbus: The filmmaker behind the magical Harry Potter episodes

With his talent and attention to detail, Harry Potter director Chris Columbus has brought the magic of the books to the screen, captivating fans the world over.

By Hugo COLLIN
Published on 18 October 2023

Epic

The magic of Harry Potter is not limited to J.K. Rowling's books. It has also conquered the world of cinema thanks to one man: director Chris Columbus. Thanks to his talent and foresight, he undertook the difficult task of transforming a literary story into a series of unforgettable films.

Exploration

By this time, Chris Columbus was already one of Hollywood's most renowned directors. His success was due to cult films such as "Mummy, I Missed the Plane" and "Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief". But Harry Potter presents a whole new challenge. It involves exploring the complex, magical and dark world portrayed by J.K. Rowling and bringing it to life.

Visionary

Columbus was faced with a number of problems, not least the choice of actors to play the characters in the saga. He managed to find young talents such as Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the lead roles. The filmmaker's attention to detail is essential to the magical atmosphere of Hogwarts. The sets, costumes and special effects all help to bring the wizarding school to life. From the Gryffindor dormitories to the Great Hall, each room is detailed and full of magic throughout the film. Released in 2001, the film was a total success and captured the hearts of Harry Potter fans the world over. Chris Columbus succeeded in paving the way for an incredible series of 8 films in total.

Bewitchment

The starting point for this iconic saga was, of course, the work of its director, Chris Columbus, and his team on the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Thanks to his immense talent and years of experience in the film industry, he was able to bring the magic of Harry Potter to the screen, enabling audiences to experience the adventures of Potter for themselves.