Chris Columbus Rules Out Harry Potter Reunion Amid Political Rift with J.K. Rowling

The possibility of a magical reunion for the Harry Potter cast has been officially shut down. Chris Columbus, the filmmaker who directed the first two films of the blockbuster franchise, has revealed that political disagreements with author J.K. Rowling have made any comeback impossible.

“If you’ve been holding out hope for a magical reunion of the Harry Potter cast, it’s time to give up on those dreams,” Columbus told The Times U.K.. “It’s never going to happen. It’s gotten so complicated with all the political stuff. Everyone in the cast has their own opinion, which is different from her opinion, which makes it impossible.”

The “her” in question is J.K. Rowling, who has faced intense criticism in recent years for her views on transgender rights. The 60-year-old author has repeatedly taken to social media to share her stance, and earlier this year, she welcomed a controversial U.K. Supreme Court ruling that defined “sex” strictly as biological sex, excluding trans women from legal recognition as women.

Columbus, best known for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), once expressed enthusiasm about adapting Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint reprising their iconic roles. However, he now admits that the project is no longer viable. “It’s never going to happen,” he reiterated, emphasizing the breakdown caused by the divisions around Rowling’s views.

The director also distanced himself from Rowling’s position, making it clear that he does not share her beliefs. “I haven’t spoken to Miss Rowling in a decade or so, so I have no idea what’s going on with her,” Columbus noted.

Despite the fractured ties with Rowling, Columbus maintains close connections with the actors who grew up on set. “I keep very close contact with Daniel Radcliffe and I just spoke to him a few days ago,” he said. “I still have a great relationship with all the kids in the cast.”

For longtime fans of the wizarding world, the news is disappointing. The original Harry Potter films defined a generation, and the idea of seeing the trio back together on screen has long been a dream. Yet, with Rowling continuing to double down on her rhetoric and the cast largely unified in their opposition to her views, the hope of a Hogwarts reunion remains firmly out of reach.