Harry Potter director breaks silence

Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry Potter

Chris Columbus, director of the first Harry Potter movie, has revealed he has kept as close to the book as possible so not to disappoint fans.

The man behind Gremlins and Home Alone has remained secretive about the project, preferring to leave people guessing.

But speaking to USA Today, he confessed he and his children were huge fans of the books.

There's not a sense of ego with any of the stars, none of that Hollywood stuff

Chris Columbus

He said: "It was a passion for me to be as faithful as possible.

"To make this film you have to be a fan. These books are incredibly imaginative, classic stories. Why would you need to toy with that?"

Ego

Speaking as the second trailer to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is released, Columbus also said that author JK Rowling had given her seal of approval.

He said Rowling was especially pleased with the casting of young Daniel Radcliffe as Harry.

Chris Columbus is behind films such as Home Alone and the Goonies

The film, due out on 16 November, stars Dame Maggie Smith, John Hurt, Robbie Coltrane and Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Columbus said: "There's not a sense of ego with any of the stars, none of that Hollywood stuff.

"Everybody just comes in to do their work. Nobody has a cook or a personal trailer. It's just so refreshing."

Impressed

The director was introduced to Harry Potter by his daughter.

He said: "My daughter Eleanor, who is 12, originally recommended this book to me.

"She loves it. She's seen quite a bit of the footage and she's impressed.

"When you come from work and talk about the day, usually you don't have your kids correcting you.

"But she'd tell me 'You can't do this. You have to do this'."

Harry Potter stars Grint (top), Radcliffe and Watson

The new trailer has been made available on the internet ahead of its debut on Friday in US cinemas.

It introduces viewers to the world of Harry Potter as he embarks on his new life as a wizard at Hogwarts school of magic.

Owls can be seen flying across the screen as the trailer transports you into the depths of Hogwarts - an enormous castle with flame torches and spookily moving stairs.

There is also the first hint of the sport which Harry excels at but fans will have to wait to see how the flying game is recreated on the big screen.

"The key is to show a little quidditch when it's ready," said Columbus.

"I want people to be intrigued and excited about seeing the film, but I don't want to spoil the experience for anybody."