David Yates, director of 4 films in the Harry Potter franchise as well as the three Fantastic Beasts movies says he is done with the world of Hogwarts and won’t return for the new TV series.
Speaking to Comicbook.com, the director said “Do you know what? Honestly, I could not, in any conceivable way, get involved. It’s simply: I spent a long time at that school, in those corridors and in those classrooms, and it was an exquisite experience and one I will always treasure. But to go back and do another year or two, for me, I feel I’ve left it. Being in the back of a van with [producer] Lawrence [Grey] in Atlanta of Savannah, hoofing it to try and make a drama, to me, at the moment, is more compelling than going through the hallowed gates of Hogwarts.”
“I wish that show so well, it’s gonna be amazing to see them re-explore all it can be for the next generation. I think it’ll be a challenge for everyone involved, but it’s a very exciting enterprise and I wish it well. It was an amazing experience for me, and I know the other filmmakers who were involved, and it will be for the next generation of filmmakers.”
Yates served as director for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2.
There no current official timeline for the new Harry Potter series, for which development was likely delayed by the WGA (Hollywood writers’) strike, and now by the SAG/AFTRA strike.
Yates’ new film, Pain Hustlers debuts on Netflix on October 27th, 2023. The film is described as “Liza Drake (Emily Blunt) is a blue-collar single mom who has just lost her job and is at the end of her rope. A chance meeting with pharmaceutical sales rep Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) puts her on an upwards trajectory economically but dubious path ethically as she becomes entangled in a dangerous racketeering scheme. Dealing with her increasingly unhinged boss (Andy Garcia), the worsening medical condition of her daughter (Chloe Coleman), and a growing awareness of the devastation the company is causing forces Liza to examine her choices.”
