Warner Bros. revealed plans for a new adaptation in 2023, and now it’s finally in production this year. However, the project has faced some disapproval.
Honestly, when I first heard about this new series, I was hesitant – and I think a lot of fans felt the same way. It just felt too soon to revisit the story. But after the initial teaser dropped, the biggest concern quickly became the colors – they just didn’t look right. Thankfully, Adriano Goldman, the cinematographer for the show, recently spoke about it on a podcast with André Pilli. He addressed all the criticism surrounding the color grading, which was a relief to hear.
Harry Potter Season 1 Hasn’t Finished Post-Production
As a huge fan, I’ve been eagerly awaiting updates on the Harry Potter series on HBO Max. While everyone thought filming for the first season – which is adapting Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – finished around May, it turns out we’re still a ways off from seeing anything. According to producer Michael Goldman, they haven’t even finished editing the first episode yet, which is a little concerning, honestly!
He also talked about the colors in the teaser, explaining it wasn’t the final version. He said a lot of research went into the show’s color scheme, and the colors will change to match the feeling of each scene.
Goldman compared the show to the first two entries, which were helmed by Chris Columbus, arguing that the technology used for the 2001 and 2002 films is already outdated. “That photography is a tired photograph by today’s standards,” he says, per the translation of the interview via Google Translate.
The cinematographer felt that Columbus’ cut looked artificial and over-the-top, with excessively bright colors, dramatic acting, and a frequent use of wide-angle shots.
I was really struck by how beautifully this show is shot. Director Mark Mylod and showrunner Francesca Gardiner clearly had a strong vision. They’ve created a Potter world that feels much more realistic and down-to-earth than previous iterations – it’s all in the details, honestly. The color scheme is muted, they didn’t overdo the locations, and even the camera work has this grounded, natural rhythm to it. It just feels different, and in a really good way.
Goldman pointed out that the original films are now two decades old, and the new TV show is aimed at a younger audience. This generation is used to the style of television shows and grew up with video games, so they expect a faster pace and more dynamic camera work.
Harry Potter Will Look Different Once Harry Goes to Hogwarts
The cinematographer explained they used color to reflect Harry’s emotional journey. Before he arrives at Hogwarts, the show has a muted and less vibrant color scheme, representing his earlier experiences.
Goldman questioned how audiences will react if everything appears overly sweet and bright. He also announced that the Harry Potter series will reveal Hogwarts at the close of the first episode, and hinted at plans to switch up the camera and lens setups in Season 2.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on HBO Max on Dec. 25.
2026-07-19 20:36