David Fincher, the renowned director behind The Social Network and Gone Girl, nearly took the helm of the Harry Potter franchise, but the vision he had in mind was quite different from the family-friendly approach that ultimately shaped the films. In a conversation with Variety, Fincher revealed that he had met with the studios behind the wizarding world, pitching a darker, more unsettling take on the beloved series.
Fincher’s idea was to create a Harry Potter film that was “creepy” and deviated from the polished Hollywood aesthetic. He said, “I just don’t want to do the clean Hollywood version of it. I want to do something that looks a lot more like Withnail and I, and I want it to be kind of creepy.” For context, Withnail and I is a dark comedy known for its offbeat, grim tone—far from the magical adventure that audiences came to expect from the Harry Potter series.
However, Warner Bros. wasn’t on board with Fincher’s vision. Instead, they preferred a more traditional approach, envisioning a classic, polished adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s best-selling books. Fincher described the studio’s preferred direction as “Thom Browne schooldays by way of Oliver!”—referring to the designer’s precise, tailored style, and the iconic musical Oliver! that captured a more conventional, Dickensian vibe.
Fincher also shared his approach to choosing projects, noting that he’s often drawn to stories with built-in audiences. He explained that pre-existing popularity is a major factor in his decision-making, as it allows for a deeper exploration of the subject matter. This insight into his creative process ties in with his previous work, such as Gone Girl, which explored narcissism in relationships, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which delved into the chilling landscape of Sweden.
Fincher’s upcoming projects include an American adaptation of the hit Korean series Squid Game, as well as a potential miniseries prequel to Chinatown, a classic film he co-wrote with the late Robert Towne.
Had he taken on Harry Potter, it’s safe to say the franchise would have looked very different—perhaps darker, more unsettling, and more aligned with Fincher’s signature suspenseful style.