Original Harry Potter helmer Chris Columbus is praising HBO’s forthcoming television reboot, calling it a “spectacular idea” that will allow for the exploration of previously uncharted Hogwarts hallways.

Chris Columbus is giving his thoughts on the upcoming Harry Potter television series being adapted by HBO. In an interview with People magazine, the director, who helmed Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone (also known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) and the Chamber of Secrets,

Per Columbus, just getting the chance to retell the story in more detail is a “fantastic” prospect. The famous director of other great films like Home Alone and Stepmom explained why, telling People the idea of a longform narrative is really exciting.

"Harry Potter" film director Chris Columbus believes an HBO series adaptation is a "great" idea and can cover much more than the films could.

Speaking to PEOPLE at the Nosferatu premiere in Los Angeles, Columbus called the TV series a "spectacular idea," and spilled the beans on Cillian Murphy 's casting rumors. He noted that a series format would allow for more detailed storytelling than the films.

Casting rumors for the Harry Potter TV reboot have been heating up over the past few months, with plenty of names for Snape and Dumbledore in the mix. The franchise's main villain is now getting some of the limelight with one name consistently being linked with the big bad: Cillian Murphy.

Original Harry Potter director Chris Columbus has called the incoming HBO reboot series a "spectacular idea" as it has the potential to better recreate the books. Speaking to People, Columbus said he was restricted by the relatively short runtimes of films when directing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.