ROTTEN TOMATOES: Shyamalan Applying for Harry Potter Job?

Shyamalan Applying for Harry Potter Job?

by Scott Weinberg | July 17, 2006

Mega-successful filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan likes to remind people that he was offered the director's chair on the very first "Harry Potter" flick, but had to turn it down because he was busy with his own movies -- but the guy's been on the press circuit a lot lately, and now he seems pretty darn interested in a "Potter" gig.

Courtesy of IGN FilmForce: ""I haven't met with J.K. [Rowling]," he continued. "The first one was offered to me, but that conflicted with "Unbreakable," which was unfortunate. I would definitely [be interested], but I think probably before that I would adapt a book. I've gotten close a few times to adapting books."

"I would be the greatest protector of an author's stuff," he said. "Especially things that I respect, that I know there's inherently magic in it. I would be very wary of screwing it up, so I would be very careful... There's no way that it would be missed by lack of effort or lack of care or lack of attention. I would be giving it every single iota...I would cherish it."

Click here for the full article.

Mr. Shyamalan's latest, "Lady in the Water," opens this Friday.

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(1-20 of 47 posts) | Reply

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Jul 17 2006 10:52 AM

I think Shyamalan could make a very good Potter movie. But for now, I'm just waiting for Lady in the Water this friday.

(Reply to this)

Landshark writes:
on Jul 17 2006 10:52 AM

M Night Shyamalan is the perfect director for the HBP.

(Reply to this)

TheIceGhost writes:
on Jul 17 2006 11:08 AM

You have to realize that this is just M. Night taking a laidback comment and making a big deal out of it to draw attention to himself for his new movie, right?? It's kinda obvious...

But to comment on all the hoopla: I dunno, I mean as a director I think he would do an excellent job; but at the same time he's talking about adapting one of the books and being "faithful", and although that can be a good thing, it can also be a bad thing. Look at the comparisons often drawn between the 1st Harry Potter movie and the 1st LotR movie and how people often say that LotR was better because it wasn't so linear to the book like HP was, and as the HP series has grown the adaptations have been looser, and better; in the end making better 'movies'.

Oh and, sorry M. Night, but my Friday is going to a couple Clerks, not a Lady in the Water (no matter how enticing that sounds.... :) )

(Reply to this)

GRD writes:
on Jul 17 2006 11:29 AM

Now that would be enough to make me watch a Harry Potter movie. (Not that I dislike them, I've just never gone out of my way to see them.)

(Reply to this)

new12play writes:
on Jul 17 2006 11:36 AM

So Harry's been a ghost this whole time?

(Reply to this)

omelette writes:
on Jul 17 2006 11:40 AM

Actually I think M. Night would be a very good director for the sixth HP film, because of its dark and creepy tone.

(Reply to this)

stephluvsemo writes:
on Jul 17 2006 12:43 PM

I agree I think he'd do a great job. Let's just hope for the best

(Reply to this)

insanemansam5 writes:
on Jul 17 2006 01:02 PM

let's not put the horse before the cart here if Lady in the Water is precieved to be a dud there's no way anyones going to let him anywhere near a potter pic

(Reply to this)

jeremyf1977 writes:
on Jul 17 2006 02:17 PM

So Harry Potter is a ghost who can help living mortals talk to other ghosts. Oh and Harry is alergic to Water and he secertally lives in a 21 Century House but pretends like its the 1800's

IT ALLLLLLLLLLLL MAKES SENSE NOW.

(Reply to this)

jeremyf1977 writes:
on Jul 17 2006 02:18 PM

Why Does M Night Hate water so much.

He based the Liqulid in Unbreakable with Bruce Willis. In Signs the aliens are alergic to water and in Lady in the water he bashes the substance............What's your beef with water any Way Shal-Al-lam-a-Ding-Dong.

(Reply to this)

crownjewel writes:
on Jul 17 2006 02:33 PM

In reply to this comment (#840345)
I agree, the fith and sixth HP films will be extremely dark and M. Night would bring a lot of his experience with dark and creepy films to the project. My only concern would be would the negative opinion many people carry over.

But this is just speculation of course.

(Reply to this)

KwazyWabbit writes:
on Jul 17 2006 03:55 PM

I think M. Night would make a great director for the Harry Potter films. Lets hope he takes the job.

(Reply to this)

killermonkey822 writes:
on Jul 17 2006 04:19 PM

m night would be good but i really want tim burton too direct a harry potter film sure he would make it dark and maybe even a little bit gothic if he wanted too but i would just love too see him make a movie like that because i am a huge tim burton fan and i even liked "sleepy hollow" but anyway yeah i agree that m night would do an excellent job doing a harry potter film i don't know why the critics have been so hard on him lately.they liked sixth sense,unbreakable,and signs but when the village came out every critic started hating him of course that wasan't his best movie but still not a bad film oh well whatever and yes i am looking forward too lady in the water on friday

(Reply to this)

The Senhman writes:
on Jul 17 2006 04:32 PM

In reply to this comment (#840353)
I'll second Tim Burton to direct a Harry Potter movie too. That would be amazing.

(Reply to this)

tyler8186 writes:
on Jul 17 2006 05:30 PM

In reply to this comment (#840354)
never
ever
ever

(Reply to this)

insanemansam5 writes:
on Jul 17 2006 05:33 PM

In reply to this comment (#840353)
What has Burton done that indicates he can do a huge action film? I love his Batman as much as anyone but the action in it was sort of whiz bang; kind of like an old comic come to life more than a standard action film. If we're playing pick whoever you want my choice for a HP director would be Peter Jackson.

(Reply to this)

tanukizilla writes:
on Jul 17 2006 05:34 PM

[b]Never thought about it[/b]
but M.Night would make a great a director. I love how he said he would do all he can to protect the autor's stuff(unlike a certain two people who directed the 3rd and 4th). I'm praying he'll get the chance to direct.

(Reply to this)

Ashron writes:
on Jul 17 2006 06:36 PM

In reply to this comment (#840357)
Yes, but the people who didn't "protect" the author's work actually made the two best movies of the franchise so far.

(Reply to this)

piscesdreams writes:
on Jul 17 2006 06:40 PM

In reply to this comment (#840353)
No sorry have to disagree. Burton movies make me feel like he's burned out. And I don't want to think about that sort of thing when I sit down to watch a movie, but that's what his films make me think. Burton WAS a great director but I don't think he would add anything to the Potter franchise other than a name.

(Reply to this)

synergyred writes:
on Jul 17 2006 06:46 PM

Yes I'd love to see Night do Harry, if just to force him to branch out a little bit.

(Reply to this)

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