Chris Columbus Wants Warner Bros. to Release Original Three-Hour Cut of “Sorcerer’s Stone”
November has probably been the most exciting month of 2021 yet for the Harry Potter fandom. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 16, and it’s brought back a lot of nostalgia and fond memories. To top it off, HBO Max announced that Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and many more cast members will reunite for a television special to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary on January 1, 2022. Now Chris Columbus, who directed the first two films, has revealed that he would love for the original three-hour film to be released as we’re celebrating two decades of magic.
Columbus spoke with TheWrap earlier this week, revealing that the original cut of Sorcerer’s Stone was a whopping three hours and included our favorite poltergeist, Peeves. Many fans have voiced their disappointment over Peeves’s absence in the films over the years, and releasing the three-hour cut would make many hearts very happy. Columbus said that the original cut initially received a very good response.
We knew that the film worked because we did a couple of previews. Particularly a Chicago preview where our first cut was a three-hour cut. Parents afterwards said it was too long; the kids said it was too short. I thought, [‘W]ell, the kids presumably have a shorter attention span, so this is a good thing.[‘]
Unfortunately, the feedback from older audience members led to Warner Bros. deciding to cut about 30 minutes from the film, which meant that Peeves (played by the late Rik Mayall) never made an appearance. Columbus clearly feels strongly about giving Peeves his well-deserved time in the spotlight, telling TheWrap, “We have to put Peeves back in the movie.”
When it comes to the Potter franchise, Columbus seems to be as much of a fan as we are. He revealed that he would love to direct a movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – but he would like to do it with the original cast.
A version of ‘Cursed Child’ with Dan, Rupert and Emma at the right age, it’s cinematic bliss. If you’re a film nerd or cinephile, it’s kind of like what J.J. Abrams did with ‘Star Wars’… There’s no question if you’re a ‘Star Wars’ fan, you were moved just seeing them on screen, seeing Harrison Ford as Han Solo again — and Chewy. I think that would be the same situation for ‘Harry Potter’ fans. To able to actually see these adult actors now back in these roles? Oh, yeah. It would be amazingly fun to make that film — or two films.
Two films? That would be insanely amazing. It would be incredible to see Harry’s story come full circle with a Cursed Child film. Would you like to see Columbus direct a film adaptation of Cursed Child? Tell us in the comments.
