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Children Influence the Creation of Harry Potter Films |
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Children played an important part in the inspiration and creation of the Harry Potter novels becoming movies.
Harry Potter is a children’s story full of magic and adventure. The novels by J.K. Rowling appeal to children and adults alike, and the adventures of Harry and his wizard family have been known to spark the imagination of children internationally. It seems logical that it was the influence of children that sparked the development of the novel into the film series. Just as J.K. Rowling created the book series with children in mind, producer David Heyman and director Chris Columbus becamed interested in making the book a film due to children in their lives interest in the original novels.
J.K. Rowling’s first book in the Harry Potter series, The Sorcerer’s Stone, was barely in print before British producer David Heyman, the former Hollywood studio executive and producer of independent films such as Juice and The Daytrippers, expressed an interest in it’s film possibilities. Heyman set up his own production studio in 1996 in hopes of making truly international films that appeal to both American and European audiences. With a little influence from his 10 and 14-year-old siblings, Heyman saw the Harry Potter series as films that could satisfy this international appeal while provide quality entertainment for children and adults.
“Having a brother and sister who were 10 and 14 at the time, I was very interested in finding a children’s film that I could enjoy as much as they would,” Heyman recalls. “My team at Heyday was aware of this and my Head of Development, Tanya Seghatchian, read an article about a new children’s book by a then-unknown author. The agent sent her a copy and my assistant Nisha read it over the weekend. Nisha reported that it was a curious book about a young boy who goes to wizard school. I thought it was a wonderful idea and read the novel that evening. What I thought was a great idea turned out to be an even more remarkable book, and so much richer than the idea that initially attracted me. I realized this was something very special and began pursuing the rights the following morning.”
After convincing Rowling that Heyman was interested in staying true to the novels, the two were concerned about finding a director that would share there interest in consistency and international childhood appeal. Finding a director with their passion, commitment and vision for the film adaptation was challenging. Chris Columbus, director of films with child and adult appeal such as Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire, expressed an interest in directing the films due to his daughters introduction of the novel to him. It was again a child passion for the Harry Potter books, in this case his daughter, that sparked his passion for the book and desire to turn it into a film.
“My daughter Eleanor was reading the book at the time and insisted that I read it as well,” Columbus remembers. “I started reading it, finished it in one day and couldn’t stop thinking about turning it into a film. But, at that point, the film was already in the hands of another director. A few months later, I received a call from my agent, telling me the book was again available. There was only one problem: several directors were now also interested in making the film. Warner Bros. and producer David Heyman began a lengthy process of interviewing the potential candidates. Nevertheless, I wasn’t intimidated by this. I felt that if I could articulate my passion and obsession with the material, if I could clearly specify how I would make the film, David and the Studio would realize that I was the man for the job.”
Heyman and Rowling saw that Columbus shared their passion for staying true to the book and appealing to the child in every person. All three, originally driven be the hopes of children in their lives, began to collaborate on the development of the films.
“There was a lot of interest from numerous directors who wanted to be involved with Harry Potter,” Heyman says, “but Chris emerged as the person with the greatest passion and understanding of the books and the desire to remain faithful to Jo’s vision.”
Inspired by children and driven by a vision of international child and inner child appeal, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone was adapted into a film. Child inspired, it is filled with all of the magic, wizardry and adventures of the book.
