Steven Spielberg Is 'Very Happy' He Didn't Direct Harry Potter
Steven Spielberg has a knack for creating childhood staple films: just look at "Jurassic Park," "E.T.," and "Indiana Jones." Few directors are able to interweave fantastical elements with the real world so skillfully, leaving Spielberg's less realistic films with a rare, magical quality. Even the most mundane details are laced with a potential for wonder; no matter how old you might be, you can't take your usual understanding of the world for granted. By the time the films come to a close, you almost feel like a kid again.
That being said, certain stories are better suited for such an effect than others. To that end, when it comes to fantastical childhood franchises, few are more magical (or beloved) than "Harry Potter." Of course, the series certainly has more than its fair share of faults, both in terms of the original books — which have sparked debates over their inclusion of potentially anti-Semitic stereotypes — and the Wizarding World's greater legacy in relation to its transphobic creator, J. K. Rowling (which is an entire conversation unto itself). Still, the "Harry Potter" books did a great job of capturing that childlike, fantastical sense of awe — and when it came time to adapt the first novel in the series, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," Spielberg was a natural choice for director.
As it turns out, not only was Spielberg approached for the project, but he even worked on it for about six months before bowing out. Still, despite the fact that he would eventually call Harry Potter a "great franchise" while chatting with "RRR" director S.S. Rajamouli, Spielberg also revealed that he stood by his decision to step away from the project — stating that he had done so in order to spend more time with his children.
Family came first for Spielberg
It's no secret that Steven Spielberg cares a lot about family. Many of his films — including his 2022 semi-autobiographical drama "The Fablemans" — have been heavily inspired by his own family experiences growing up. So perhaps it's not too surprising that once the director had kids, they became his top priority. As he told Boston Parent, "Everything from that moment on had to do with my kids' wellbeing, and my career suddenly became second."
Ultimately, Spielberg's commitment to his kids is what made the "Harry Potter" deal fall through. He told S.S. Rajamouli that signing onto the first movie would've taken him away from his family for the next year and a half. That being said, there would've been another drawback to the project, too: Spielberg had previously admitted that he had apprehensions about making a movie whose main cast only featured children.
Regardless of the rationale, I (selfishly) can't help but feel slightly disappointed when I think about the lost possibility of Spielberg directing "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." I realize that the Wizarding World isn't as firmly grounded in our own world as something like "E.T." or "Jurassic Park," but I really do believe that, much like his other fantastical films, Spielberg's "Harry Potter" would've felt like a vivid extension of reality.
At the same time, I also have a lot of respect for anyone who's willing to forgo surefire success in favor of spending time with their family. At the end of the day, work is work and even the world's best (or most magical) movie is still just a movie. While I don't mean to be dismissive of either one, memories with loved ones are priceless.