Exclusive Interview: Harry Potter Director Reveals Exciting Plans for a Comeback

Summary

David Yates, director of the Harry Potter franchise, is unsure if he will return to the series after Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Yates expressed appreciation for his experience working on Harry Potter but stated that he will now be focusing on non-wizardry projects. Despite not entirely excluding the possibility of returning to the Wizarding World, he emphasized his enthusiasm for moving forward and expanding his professional endeavors.

Harry Potter director David Yates discusses the possibility of his return to Hogwarts. He originally became a part of the franchise in 2007 when he directed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Since then, Yates has established himself as the leading director in the Harry Potter series, including the recent Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them prequel trilogy.

Yates shared his thoughts on the matter during an interview with Deadline Hollywood. When asked if he would consider coming back to the Wizarding World after the conclusion of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Yates expressed his gratitude for his "amazing journey" working on Harry Potter but acknowledged that he will be focusing on non-wizard related projects for the time being. However, he did leave the possibility open by saying, "never say never." Read Yates' full quote below:

"I started working on Potter in 2005, so it has been an incredible journey. We even filmed the last one, Secrets of Dumbledore, during the pandemic before the vaccine was available. It was a challenging experience to put everything together without vaccines. I have a great affection for the cast and crew, and I love all of them, but we haven't talked since we finished the film. We've decided to take a break from it for now. However, I would never rule out the possibility of returning to it in the future. I'm very excited about exploring other projects, like Pain Hustlers, and I have various non-wizard related projects on my desk. Making these films has brought me immense joy, so you never know what the future holds. But for now, I'll be venturing into different territories."

David Yates & Harry Potter’s Close Relationship Explained

Yates has become synonymous with the Harry Potter franchise, having directed all seven of the most recent movies, including the three Fantastic Beasts films. This successful series not only solidified his legacy in the Wizarding World but also helped launch his career. Prior to his wizarding work, Yates had directed episodes of TV series and made-for-TV movies.

His success with Harry Potter has made Yates a sought-after director. In a recent quote, he mentioned his involvement in the upcoming crime drama Pain Hustlers, starring Emily Blunt as a struggling mother who gets unintentionally involved in a criminal conspiracy. This movie showcases Yates's desire to diversify his career beyond the realm of wizards, after his work on Fantastic Beasts.

Yates was previously speculated to be directing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 4, but there hasn't been any confirmation regarding the movie or Yates' involvement after the disappointing performance of The Secrets of Dumbledore. Based on Yates' latest statement, it appears that he is unlikely to be involved in future Fantastic Beasts projects, if they were to happen. Additionally, with HBO working on its own Harry Potter TV series, Yates may be relieved from any further Fantastic Beasts content as he moves on from Hogwarts and focuses on stories centered around non-magical individuals, rather than wizards.