Chris Columbus, the director known for his work on "Home Alone" and the first two "Harry Potter" films, has recently shared his thoughts on HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" reboot, expressing a sentiment of pointlessness. Columbus, who directed "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," suggests the new series might end up being a mere imitation of the original film franchise.

His comments came after viewing set photos of the new adaptation, specifically images of the actor cast as Harry Potter, Dominic McLaughlin, alongside Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Columbus noted the striking similarity between the costume designed for Frost's Hagrid and the one his team originally created for Robbie Coltrane in the films. This led him to question the purpose of the reboot, wondering if it would simply rehash familiar elements instead of offering a fresh perspective. "So I'm seeing these photographs ... and he's wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid," Columbus stated, "Part of me was like, 'What's the point?' I thought everything was going to be different, but it's more of the same. It's all going to be the same".

Despite his skepticism, Columbus doesn't seem entirely negative about the project. He acknowledged that the similarity to his original designs is "very flattering". Columbus also stated that he's looking forward to seeing what the series does with the franchise, noting that "Part of it is really exciting, so I'm excited to see what they're going to do with it. Part of it is sort of déjà vu, all over again".

Columbus has stated firmly that he will not be returning to the "Harry Potter" world. "No, I've done it, you saw my version," he said. "There's nothing left for me to do in the world of 'Potter'".

The "Harry Potter" reboot is set to be helmed by Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on "Succession," with Mark Mylod, another "Succession" alum, directing. Columbus had previously expressed some envy over the extended format of the series, which will dedicate 10 hours to the first book, allowing for a more detailed adaptation. "I think the best part of the series is the fact it's 10 hours for the first book, which we didn't have the opportunity to do. I'm a little envious," he said.

Columbus also weighed in on the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling, stating, "I like to sometimes separate the artist from the art, I think that's important to do. It's unfortunate, what's happened. I certainly don't agree with what she's talking about. But it's just sad, it's very sad".

The original "Harry Potter" films are currently available for streaming on HBO Max and Peacock.