Yes, it was Stephen Spielberg who was tapped to kick-start the Harry Potter film franchise, but he refused! Arguably dubbed as the most successful director ever, there’s no wonder that Steven Spielberg was the first choice for the director while the studio execs were planning to turn the popular novels into a film series. But Spielberg refused the offer. The veteran director recently revealed the real reason behind his decision.

The Offer

Turning down the opportunity of directing the Harry Potter films might seem like a wrong move for any director in the industry. But despite the allure of being a vital part of a highly potential film franchise, Steven Spielberg decided not to go with it at that moment. The 76-year-old director recently revealed that he was offered the first installment of the franchise, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, two decades ago. Finally, Home Alone-famed Christopher Columbus took the job. The film became a globally successful franchise, making over $965 million alone after its 2001 release. During the following years, the other seven movies raked in over $9 billion in total.

The Refusal

Despite this decade-defining success of the film franchise, Steven Spielberg doesn’t regret turning down the opportunity. As he told the media, he personally experienced the tearing conflict between family and art after establishing himself as a working director and a successful filmmaker. During the Harry Potter offer, Spielberg was just starting a family with his wife Kate Capshaw. So, he had to choose between staying with his family and moving to another country for four to five months to direct the film. According to Spielberg, the choice was hard, but finally, he sacrificed a great franchise and also a few other movies to spend time with his family, cherishing his young kids growing up. The happy family man has no regrets looking back on that decision and it didn’t make Stephen Spielberg any less legendary of a director!

The shooting of the new film project by Wes Anderson begins this month with an incredible lineup of talented actors. Although not much is known about the upcoming film, it’s been announced that Margot Robbie will be playing one of the roles, along with many iconic Hollywood names including Tom Hanks!

Hollywood Can’t Get Enough of Margot Robbie

Critically acclaimed Australian actress, Margot Robbie, won the hearts and fan support of millions in her role as Harley Quinn in the DC Extended Universe media franchise. Active in the industry since 2008, her thespian talents earned her nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, two for Academy Awards, and five nominations each for the British Academy Film Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. The upcoming film project will be Robbie’s first debut in a Wes Anderson movie.

Wes Anderson’s Numerous Achievements

Wesley Wales Anderson is a well-known American filmmaker applauded for his very distinctive narrative style. He was a recipient of the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. The upcoming film will be his eleventh project following the comedy-drama The French Dispatch which is set to be released in the US on the 22nd of October. The mentioned film is set in a 20th-century American newspaper outpost in France and stars Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Adrien Brody, and Elisabeth Moss.

Little Is Known About the New Movie

The filming of the upcoming Anderson flick will begin later this month in Spain. The still-untitled movie will star well-known Hollywood names including Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, and Adrien Brody. Although the plot and theme of the movie remain unknown to the public, The Hollywood Reporter claims it’s possible that Robbie’s role in the movie will be in the supporting capacity. What’s safe to say is that, with Anderson’s filmmaking genius and the incredible lineup of acclaimed actors, the public will be waiting with anticipation to see this new project brought to life.