.png)
1 week ago
14
While we’re eternally grateful to the likes of Chris Columbus and Alfonso Cuarón, who transformed J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels into stunning visuals, there were several other directors eyed for the project, who ultimately lost or gave up the offer. One among them was the visionary filmmaker David Fincher, known for his cult classic Fight Club.
Filmmaker David Fincher | image: Raffi Asdourian, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Given his decorated career spanning over three decades, David Fincher was initially considered to direct the Harry Potter films. But surprisingly, after he pitched his take on the material, Warner Bros. never moved forward with him. Now, in retrospect, we’re more than glad for the way things turned out because Fincher’s take on Rowling’s novel was rather “creepy”.
David Fincher was initially eyed to helm the Harry Potter films
During the early 2000s, in the wake of Warner Bros’ groundbreaking decision to adapt J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, the studio faced the significant task of hiring suitable filmmakers for the film installments, who would stay true to the books’ magical charm while simultaneously creating a visually captivating experience.
That’s when skimming through resumes, the studio came across David Fincher among several other directors, who were eyed to helm the films. Given his impeccable directorial vision for films like Se7en (1995) and The Game (1997), alongside his reputation as a prominent Hollywood director, Fincher seemed like the perfect fit for Warner Bros.
David Fincher | image: Elen Nivrae, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons With a decorated career and a penchant for crafting intense and gripping narratives through his visuals, David Fincher was indeed an interesting, and somewhat unconventional choice for the studio. But surprisingly, despite his experience and Warner Bros’ interest in him, Fincher never landed the opportunity of helming any of the Harry Potter films.
David Fincher’s take on the novels drove Warner Bros. away
Recently, appearing for an interview with Variety, David Fincher addressed what went wrong in the process of being hired to direct a Harry Potter installment. It seems Fincher himself was responsible for losing the billion-dollar opportunity. Because, apparently, it was his pitch for the project that drove away Warner Bros.
Known for his dark, gritty masterpieces like Fight Club and Panic Room, acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher had quite naturally pitched an intense interpretation of J.K. Rowling’s novels, that seemed to be a far cry from the family-friendly vision the studio was hoping for. Being true to his signature style, Fincher wanted to lean heavily into the unsettling aspects of the novels.
I was asked to come in and talk to them about how I would do ‘Harry Potter’. I remember saying, ‘I just don’t want to do the clean Hollywood version of it.’
I want to do something that looks a lot more like ‘Withnail and I,’ and I want it to be kind of creepy.’ They were like, ‘We want Thom Browne schooldays by way of ‘Oliver’.’
Daniel Radcliffe in Chris Columbus’ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone | image: Warner Bros. Now, in retrospect, it seems that Warner Bros. was absolutely right to reject David Fincher’s take on the Harry Potter novels. Because, had he helmed any of the films, he might have leaned more into the psychological horrors lurking in the Wizarding World, rather than focusing on the story about the eponymous wizard.
Looking back, it’s hard not to breathe a sigh of relief that Warner Bros. passed on David Fincher for this project. Although he’s undeniably a legendary filmmaker, his visions for the films would have deviated from the magical tone that made the books so beloved. Therefore, now, we’re thankful for Chris Columbus’s lighthearted adaptations of the first two books, followed by the other filmmakers who stayed true to Rowling’s vision.
Harry Potter films are currently available to watch on Max.
Bengali (BD) · 
English (US) ·