J K Rawlings

With the news that Chris Columbus has been selected to direct the first "Harry Potter" film, many of the books' countless fans made a collective grimace. Children may have loved "Home Alone" or "Mrs. Doubtfire" but they can't see the connection between the boy wizard who springs from pages laced with subtle humor and the "silly, slapstick" movies the director is known for. Ouch. Adult fans--and there are many--also tend to greet the choice of Columbus with a raised eyebrow.

With the news that Chris Columbus has been selected to direct the first "Harry Potter" film, many of the books' countless fans made a collective grimace. Children may have loved "Home Alone" or "Mrs. Doubtfire" but they can't see the connection between the boy wizard who springs from pages laced with subtle humor and the "silly, slapstick" movies the director is known for. Ouch. Adult fans--and there are many--also tend to greet the choice of Columbus with a raised eyebrow.

After considering a list of candidates that included Robert Zemeckis, Brad Silberling and Terry Gilliam--and being turned down by Steven Spielberg--Warner Bros. has signed "Home Alone" director Chris Columbus to take the reins on "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which is already shaping up to be the event film of summer 2001. Speaking from Scotland where he is meeting with Potter creator J.K.

After considering a list of candidates that included Robert Zemeckis, Brad Silberling and Terry Gilliam--and being turned down by Steven Spielberg--Warner Bros. has signed "Home Alone" director Chris Columbus to take the reins on "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which is already shaping up to be the event film of summer 2001. Speaking from Scotland where he is meeting with Potter creator J.K.