Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Could Have Been Directed by Fight Club Director

According to Variety, Warner Bros. invited David Fincher to direct Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The director planned to make the adaptation of the book darker, but the studio rejected his ideas.

During his interview, timed to coincide with the re-release of his film Seven in 4K, David Fincher spoke about the unexpected offer from Warner Bros. The studio bosses wanted the director of Fight Club to direct a film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's novel about the Boy Who Lived. But when the director shared his vision, they decided to turn him down:

Warner Bros. was not satisfied with this arthouse interpretation of Harry Potter, and the company preferred another director with a more traditional approach. In the end, Chris Columbus, who directed Home Alone, was chosen for Philosopher's Stone.

Recall that the first season of the HBO series Harry Potter will be released in 2026. According to rumors, some actors have already been eyed for the roles of Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape. And the actor who played Voldemort in the films even advised Warner Bros. to sign a contract with Cillian Murphy.