20 Things That Almost Completely Changed Harry Potter Movies
3. Terry Gilliam Wanted To Direct The Philosopher's Stone
Steven Spielberg wasn't the only director who almost made the first Harry Potter film: other candidates included Jonathan Demme, Brad Silberling and Terry Gilliam, who in particular came close to the job. The former Python was in fact Rowling's favourite, and by all means he wanted the gig, but Warner Bros. snubbed him in favour of Chris Columbus because of his specific experience directing child actors. Ultimately Gilliam branded Columbus' movies as "sh*te", and in 2008 professed himself relieved to have missed out, because he wouldn't have been given creative control to the level he'd have liked:
"That was one of my lucky moments. I would have gone crazy. It's a f*cking factory, working on Harry Potter. It is. The studios are staking everything on the success of those movies."
In his usual fashion, Gilliam qualified why he was so happy to have lost a high-paying job:
"Too much at stake. So they interfere. It's about serving something higher than yourself. It's the film. The film is God and I'm worshipping While I'm making it I become a zealot. Basically, I'm like a suicide bomber when it comes to my films!"
