“My kids thought I was crazy”: Like Kate Winslet, Steven Spielberg Turned Down $7.7B Harry Potter Franchise Despite Being Invested for Months

Grossing over $7.7 billion over the span of 8 movies, Harry Potter has been one of the most impactful IPs of the last 2-decades. But things would’ve been much different if Steven Spielberg never dropped the gig of directing the first film. Known for crafting some of the most beloved pieces of media in the last six decades, from commercial blockbusters to critically acclaimed gut-wrenching dramas, Spielberg has done it all

But even though the director had expertise in crafting movies suitable for all ages, Spielberg couldn’t find himself committing to The Harry Potter franchise for the story being aimed at kids.

Also read: “We may take your character out of it”: Jeff Goldblum Turned the Tables After Steven Spielberg Tried to Fire Him From Jurassic Park for the Worst Reason Possible

Steven Spielberg Wasn’t Comfortable Making an All-Kids Movie

With acclaimed classics, including Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List under his belt, it’s reasonable to see why Steven Spielberg was seen as the perfect fit to bring J. K. Rowling‘s novels to life. Although Spielberg too was initially on board with the idea, investing about five to six months on the project, he eventually called it quits, as he found it difficult to craft a film completely aimed at kids. Speaking with BBC Breakfast via Digital Spy, Spielberg said,

“I’ve had [the] chance to make a lot of movies that went on to be big hits with other directors and other studios, because I can’t do everything. I was offered Harry Potter. I developed it for about five or six months with Steve Kloves, and then I dropped out… I just felt that I wasn’t ready to make an all-kids movie”

After dropping the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the director moved on to craft A.I. Artificial Intelligence, which served as a homage to his late friend and filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick.

Also read: “I didn’t want to have kids”: Steven Spielberg Changed His Future Plans After Working With 6-Year-Old Drew Barrymore in a Movie That Won 4 Oscars

Steven Spielberg’s Children Didn’t Appreciate It

Although choosing A.I. Artificial Intelligence over Harry Potter was not a difficult choice for the acclaimed filmmaker, his kids weren’t too happy about the matter. Considering the influence of J. K. Rowling’s works on the younger generation at the time, it makes sense why witnessing their dad rejecting the property was staggering. In the same interview, Spielberg recounted, “My kids thought I was crazy.”

Also read: “I could do a much better job… If you let me have a few drinks”: Steven Spielberg Revealed Iconic Jaws Speech Was Done Drunk, Said Actor Was “Too Far Gone”

Like Spielberg, Titanic Star Kate Winslet also turned down the movie, as she didn’t want to follow the trend of British actors joining the franchise. And even though Spielberg knew that it was going to be a phenomenon, which it ended up being, the director has no regrets about letting the billion-dollar franchise slip away, as it never clicked with him.

Source: Digital Spy