The original Harry Potter director wants the gang back together for another film

The Harry Potter franchise is already set to receive a new lease of life through the forthcoming Fantastic Beasts trilogy, but Chris Columbus would like to see the original story developed further, telling Entertainment Weekly he would love to direct another film.

"I would love to go back and do another one," says Columbus. "Not Fantastic Beasts as much, which I think is going to be amazing, but I would love to do another movie with those three characters — Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I’m just fascinated about what happened to them after the end of the last movie, because then they cut to 18 years ahead. There’s 18 years there of great Harry Potter stories.”

"There has to be a great story in Harry’s life at that point," continues the director. "Hopefully [J.K. Rowling] will maybe think about doing that. Even if I wouldn’t make a movie, I’d still like to read those stories."

To be honest, we're doubtful that Rowling will revisit her core story having brought it to such a satisfying close, although the scope to continue developing that universe would appear to remain pretty broad, especially in light of the new Fantastic Beasts saga, starring Eddie Redmayne, as the adventurer Newt Scamander. That film will open in the US and UK on November 18 2016.

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George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.