When J.K. Rowling’s vision of Harry Potter was realized on the big screen in 2001, a very passionate fan was helming the film. Chris Columbus, who already made a mark in Hollywood with Home Alone, impressed Rowling and Warner Bros. and secured the directing gig. However, the passion quickly turned into dread after the filming became exhaustive for the director who couldn’t see his young children due to the tight schedules.
Chris Columbus and Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
Columbus, who already had ideas for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, had no energy to direct a third Harry Potter film and gave up his directing duties after two films. In the third film, he served as a producer and left the franchise after the film.
Harry Potter Director Chris Columbus Left The Franchise In Exhaustion Chris Columbus, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson...
Chris Columbus and Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
Columbus, who already had ideas for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, had no energy to direct a third Harry Potter film and gave up his directing duties after two films. In the third film, he served as a producer and left the franchise after the film.
Harry Potter Director Chris Columbus Left The Franchise In Exhaustion Chris Columbus, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson...
- 2/18/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
We all know the three rules of mogwai: don’t expose it to sunlight, don’t get it wet and don’t feed it after midnight. While that third point is up for debate as to its interpretation, one thing that isn’t is the desire for a third Gremlins movie – at least to its original star, Zach Galligan, who played Billy Peltzer in both the 1984 movie and its 1990 sequel, The New Batch. With animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai proving to be a hit, maybe Galligan is right in his call for Gremlins 3.
Speaking with Screen Rant, Galligan said that the studio must have a plan for the Gremlins franchise if they have invested more time and money into Secrets of the Mogwai. “I can’t really figure out why Warner Bros. would do two seasons – not one, but two seasons – of the animated series, and spend a lot of money on it,...
Speaking with Screen Rant, Galligan said that the studio must have a plan for the Gremlins franchise if they have invested more time and money into Secrets of the Mogwai. “I can’t really figure out why Warner Bros. would do two seasons – not one, but two seasons – of the animated series, and spend a lot of money on it,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
If you watched Home Alone 2 over the holidays, you likely caught Donald Trump making a brief cameo. The scene was filmed at the Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, and found Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) asking him for directions.
While speaking with Business Insider in 2020, Home Alone 2 director Chris Columbus claimed that Donald Trump “bullied” his way into the movie. “Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location,” Columbus said. “We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage.“
Columbus continued: “Trump said Ok. We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.’ So we agreed to put him in the movie,...
While speaking with Business Insider in 2020, Home Alone 2 director Chris Columbus claimed that Donald Trump “bullied” his way into the movie. “Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location,” Columbus said. “We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage.“
Columbus continued: “Trump said Ok. We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.’ So we agreed to put him in the movie,...
- 12/28/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
There was no bullying involved in the Donald Trump cameo in 1992’s Home Alone 2, says the former president, responding to claims by the film’s director, Chris Columbus, that he “bullied” his way into the picture.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Trump said on social media on Wednesday. “That cameo helped make the movie a success. But if they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there for over 30 years?”
Trump said he was begged to appear, but was “very busy” at the time and “didn’t want to do it.” But the filmmakers were “persistent,” so he agreed.
Trump has been accused of applying a quid pro quo for the filming at his Plaza Hotel.
“Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location,” said Columbus.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Trump said on social media on Wednesday. “That cameo helped make the movie a success. But if they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there for over 30 years?”
Trump said he was begged to appear, but was “very busy” at the time and “didn’t want to do it.” But the filmmakers were “persistent,” so he agreed.
Trump has been accused of applying a quid pro quo for the filming at his Plaza Hotel.
“Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location,” said Columbus.
- 12/28/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump criticized “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” director Chris Columbus on Wednesday for claiming in an interview that Trump bullied his way into the 1992 sequel.
On Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, the former U.S. president said that Columbus and the production team were “begging me to make a cameo appearance in ‘Home Alone 2.'”
“They rented the Plaza Hotel in New York, which I owned at the time. I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent,” Trump wrote. “I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.”
In a 2020 interview with Business Insider, Columbus recalled how he and his team “wanted to shoot in the lobby...
On Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, the former U.S. president said that Columbus and the production team were “begging me to make a cameo appearance in ‘Home Alone 2.'”
“They rented the Plaza Hotel in New York, which I owned at the time. I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent,” Trump wrote. “I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.”
In a 2020 interview with Business Insider, Columbus recalled how he and his team “wanted to shoot in the lobby...
- 12/28/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
What’s Christmas without the Grinch? Donald Trump has lashed out against Home Alone 2: Lost in New York director Chris Columbus over comments alleging that the multi-indicted former president had to “bully” his way into his infamous cameo in the film.
It’s long been known that Trump’s bit part in Home Alone 2, in which he gives Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister directions to the Plaza Hotel lobby, was an act of quid pro quo. Trump owned the Plaza at the time, and when the production asked to film inside the iconic building, the egotistical landlord had one condition on top of the standard fee request:
“We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,'” Columbus told Business Insider. “So we agreed to put him in the movie, and when we...
It’s long been known that Trump’s bit part in Home Alone 2, in which he gives Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister directions to the Plaza Hotel lobby, was an act of quid pro quo. Trump owned the Plaza at the time, and when the production asked to film inside the iconic building, the egotistical landlord had one condition on top of the standard fee request:
“We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,'” Columbus told Business Insider. “So we agreed to put him in the movie, and when we...
- 12/27/2023
- by Ben Kaye
- Consequence - Film News
If you spent your Christmas holidays binge-watching the Home Alone franchise on Disney+, you were probably stunned to see the familiar off-white dome of former President Donald Trump wandering through New York City’s Plaza Hotel lobby at the beginning of Home Alone 2. (It’s the scene where Kevin asks him for directions, and Trump does a double-take before giving them to him.)
In a new interview with Business Insider, Home Alone 2 director Chris Columbus has finally explained that baffling cameo. Basically, he says, Trump, who then owned the Plaza Hotel,...
In a new interview with Business Insider, Home Alone 2 director Chris Columbus has finally explained that baffling cameo. Basically, he says, Trump, who then owned the Plaza Hotel,...
- 12/26/2023
- by Ej Dickson
- Rollingstone.com
“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” was the 1992 sequel to “Home Alone.” The movie starred Macaulay Culkin in his star-making role as Kevin McCallister. The sequel also featured a cameo from Donald Trump, then the owner of New York’s Plaza Hotel. Chris Columbus, who directed both movies, told Business Insider that Trump forced his way into the movie, which wasn’t standard at the time.
Columbus said that Trump’s appearance was required so that the team could shoot in the hotel. He explained, “We wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage.”
Typically, a production team could pay a fee to use a physical location, but Trump wanted more than just money. “We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,'” Columbus continued. “So we...
Columbus said that Trump’s appearance was required so that the team could shoot in the hotel. He explained, “We wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage.”
Typically, a production team could pay a fee to use a physical location, but Trump wanted more than just money. “We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,'” Columbus continued. “So we...
- 12/24/2023
- by Stephanie Kaloi
- The Wrap
Donald Trump was accused of applying quid pro quo during his time at the White House, and Home Alone: Lost in New York director is now confirming that’s the way the twice-impeached president got himself a cameo in the holiday film classic.
Chris Columbus returned to helm the Home Alone sequel following the success of the first film starring Macaulay Culkin. In a new interview, Columbus details how Trump weaseled his way into an on-camera appearance.
“Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location. We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage,” Columbus said in an interview with Business Insider.
Trump agreed to having the film shoot at his hotel under the condition that he appear In the movie.
Chris Columbus returned to helm the Home Alone sequel following the success of the first film starring Macaulay Culkin. In a new interview, Columbus details how Trump weaseled his way into an on-camera appearance.
“Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location. We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage,” Columbus said in an interview with Business Insider.
Trump agreed to having the film shoot at his hotel under the condition that he appear In the movie.
- 12/24/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
You know what they say about Old Man Marley, the South Bend Shovel Slayer? Back in ’58, he murdered his whole family and half the people on a suburban Chicago block with a snow shovel. He’s been hiding out there ever since, disguising the remains of his misdeeds by turning victims to mummies, and using the dust off their bones to salt our streets.
That’s what the kids in the McCallister house tell each other every cold December night when the lonely stranger played by Roberts Blossom appears outside their window. It’s of course a lie, but the truth was originally a lot more enigmatic in the early drafts of the Home Alone screenplay penned by John Hughes, who was a maestro of family and youth entertainment during the 1980s and early ‘90s.
At its inception, Home Alone was both a departure and a return to the well for Hughes.
That’s what the kids in the McCallister house tell each other every cold December night when the lonely stranger played by Roberts Blossom appears outside their window. It’s of course a lie, but the truth was originally a lot more enigmatic in the early drafts of the Home Alone screenplay penned by John Hughes, who was a maestro of family and youth entertainment during the 1980s and early ‘90s.
At its inception, Home Alone was both a departure and a return to the well for Hughes.
- 12/23/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Back in 1996, movie titan Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most notable ventures away from laying waste to camouflaged aliens, gunning down police stations and impaling mad Aussies, was in the comedies Kindergarten Cop and Twins. They were both decent movies, but Twins in particular was an unusual and surprising move for the Austrian Oak. However, it did ultimately turn out to be a fairly good movie, mainly thanks to the unlikely chemistry between Arnie and the great Danny De Vito. Twins was a financial success but the relative critical bashing Arnie’s next movie would get, the admittedly decent Eraser from 1996, meant he was in need of career resurgence.
So, what better way to go about kickstarting his slightly stuttering career than to throw himself head first into very unfamiliar territory: the Christmas movie. On the face of it, it probably seemed like a good idea; after all, both Twins and Kindergarten Cop...
So, what better way to go about kickstarting his slightly stuttering career than to throw himself head first into very unfamiliar territory: the Christmas movie. On the face of it, it probably seemed like a good idea; after all, both Twins and Kindergarten Cop...
- 12/17/2023
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
Daniel Radcliffe initially worked with filmmaker Chris Columbus in the first couple of Harry Potter films. The wizard franchise would soon be entrusted in the hands of other directors, which Radcliffe believed was for the best.
Daniel Radcliffe was initially terrified of losing his original ‘Harry Potter’ director Daniel Radcliffe | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
The Harry Potter franchise has recruited several directors to tell its story. Filmmaker Chris Columbus was the first to translate J.K Rowling’s book series to the big screen. After Columbus directed Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, he left the series for Alfonso Cuaron to continue. Harry Potter would change hands again with Mike Newell directing Goblet of Fire. David Yates directed the last four Harry Potter projects.
When Radcliffe first heard about Columbus’ imminent departure, he didn’t take the news well.
“Yeah, I think it was great to be honest with you, because...
Daniel Radcliffe was initially terrified of losing his original ‘Harry Potter’ director Daniel Radcliffe | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
The Harry Potter franchise has recruited several directors to tell its story. Filmmaker Chris Columbus was the first to translate J.K Rowling’s book series to the big screen. After Columbus directed Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, he left the series for Alfonso Cuaron to continue. Harry Potter would change hands again with Mike Newell directing Goblet of Fire. David Yates directed the last four Harry Potter projects.
When Radcliffe first heard about Columbus’ imminent departure, he didn’t take the news well.
“Yeah, I think it was great to be honest with you, because...
- 11/29/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Robert Eggers’ long-in-the-works remake of “Nosferatu” will haunt theaters next Christmas.
Focus Features has scheduled the movie for Dec. 25, 2024. On its current release date, “Nosferatu” will land on the big screen a few days after Disney’s “Lion King” prequel “Mufasa” and Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” both of which open on Dec. 20.
Eggers wrote and directed this take on “Nosferatu,” which features an ensemble cast of Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney and Willem Dafoe. It’s the second remake of F. W. Murnau’s iconic 1922 Dracula-inspired silent movie, following Werner Herzog’s 1979 film “Nosferatu the Vampyre.”
The new imagining of the cinematic classic is described as a “gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.” Eggers’ vision was first announced in 2015 and, at one point,...
Focus Features has scheduled the movie for Dec. 25, 2024. On its current release date, “Nosferatu” will land on the big screen a few days after Disney’s “Lion King” prequel “Mufasa” and Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” both of which open on Dec. 20.
Eggers wrote and directed this take on “Nosferatu,” which features an ensemble cast of Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney and Willem Dafoe. It’s the second remake of F. W. Murnau’s iconic 1922 Dracula-inspired silent movie, following Werner Herzog’s 1979 film “Nosferatu the Vampyre.”
The new imagining of the cinematic classic is described as a “gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.” Eggers’ vision was first announced in 2015 and, at one point,...
- 11/28/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features’ second movie with filmmaker Robert Eggers, Nosferatu, will be hitting cinemas on Wednesday, December 25, 2024.
That’s good news for the year-end holiday period, which is still scant of product. The only other wide entries on Dec. 20, 2024 are Disney’s live-action sequel Mufasa and Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
“The audacious filmmaking of Robert Eggers is always a gift for fans, and we can promise that his Nosferatu is planning quite the Christmas feast,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said.
Written and directed by Eggers, Nosferatu is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. Pic stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney and Willem Dafoe.
Eggers produced alongside Chris Columbus and Eleanor Columbus (Maiden Voyage), Jeff Robinov, and John Graham. Columbus was the EP...
That’s good news for the year-end holiday period, which is still scant of product. The only other wide entries on Dec. 20, 2024 are Disney’s live-action sequel Mufasa and Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
“The audacious filmmaking of Robert Eggers is always a gift for fans, and we can promise that his Nosferatu is planning quite the Christmas feast,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said.
Written and directed by Eggers, Nosferatu is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. Pic stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney and Willem Dafoe.
Eggers produced alongside Chris Columbus and Eleanor Columbus (Maiden Voyage), Jeff Robinov, and John Graham. Columbus was the EP...
- 11/28/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"The goal for me, always, is try to make a movie that feels timeless, that people will watch years from now," said "Mrs. Doubtfire" director Chris Columbus in a recent interview with Ktvu.
The character of Mrs. Doubtfire actually has her roots in a real person -- not a recently-divorced father pulling a desperate gambit to see more of his kids, but the owner of a second hand clothing shop in Edinburgh. The shop was called Madame Doubtfire and, colloquially, so was its owner, though her name after remarrying was Annabella Coutts. She was something of a local legend, with one Edinburgh resident recalling that she had "about half a dozen cats" and that while her shop was an excellent resource for high-quality second hand goods,...
"The goal for me, always, is try to make a movie that feels timeless, that people will watch years from now," said "Mrs. Doubtfire" director Chris Columbus in a recent interview with Ktvu.
The character of Mrs. Doubtfire actually has her roots in a real person -- not a recently-divorced father pulling a desperate gambit to see more of his kids, but the owner of a second hand clothing shop in Edinburgh. The shop was called Madame Doubtfire and, colloquially, so was its owner, though her name after remarrying was Annabella Coutts. She was something of a local legend, with one Edinburgh resident recalling that she had "about half a dozen cats" and that while her shop was an excellent resource for high-quality second hand goods,...
- 11/26/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
Robin Williams’ iconic turn in “Mrs. Doubtfire” may be revisited for an upcoming documentary.
Director Chris Columbus revealed to Insider during the 30th anniversary for the 1993 family film that he hopes to turn the 2 million feet of footage into a documentary about late actor Williams’ approach to improv acting.
“Yeah, we are talking about it and trying to get it done,” Columbus said. “I mean, there’s 2 million feet of film in that warehouse so there could be something we can do with all of that. There are roughly 972 boxes of footage from ‘Doubtfire’ — footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage — in a warehouse somewhere and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that footage.”
He continued, “We want to show Robin’s process. There is something special and magical about how he went about his work and I think...
Director Chris Columbus revealed to Insider during the 30th anniversary for the 1993 family film that he hopes to turn the 2 million feet of footage into a documentary about late actor Williams’ approach to improv acting.
“Yeah, we are talking about it and trying to get it done,” Columbus said. “I mean, there’s 2 million feet of film in that warehouse so there could be something we can do with all of that. There are roughly 972 boxes of footage from ‘Doubtfire’ — footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage — in a warehouse somewhere and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that footage.”
He continued, “We want to show Robin’s process. There is something special and magical about how he went about his work and I think...
- 11/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
“Mrs. Doubtfire” director Chris Columbus revealed to Business Insider while celebrating the movie’s 30th anniversary that talks for a sequel to the beloved 1993 comedy only started in 2014 shortly before Robin William’s death. Without the actor, there was not a shot that Columbus would ever make a follow-up.
“It’s an interesting thing. Back then, there was an attitude that sequels were looked down upon by the artists. So Robin was against doing a sequel immediately after,” Columbus said. “He and I didn’t talk about a sequel until the year he passed away.”
“We had a script that was written and it was the last time I saw Robin,” he continued. “I went to his house and we sat down and talked about it and the script was really strong. Robin’s only comment was, ‘Boss, do I have to be in the suit as much this time?...
“It’s an interesting thing. Back then, there was an attitude that sequels were looked down upon by the artists. So Robin was against doing a sequel immediately after,” Columbus said. “He and I didn’t talk about a sequel until the year he passed away.”
“We had a script that was written and it was the last time I saw Robin,” he continued. “I went to his house and we sat down and talked about it and the script was really strong. Robin’s only comment was, ‘Boss, do I have to be in the suit as much this time?...
- 11/22/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Robin Williams improvised so much dialogue while shooting Mrs. Doubtfire that the movie used up 2 million feet of film, according to its director Chris Columbus.
“Early on in the process, [Williams] went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,’” Columbus said in a new interview with Business Insider commemorating the film’s 30th anniversary. “By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that’s exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted, and then Robin would go off and it was something to behold.”
Williams ad-libbed so much on the set of the 1993 comedy — in which he plays a newly-divorced actor digsuising himself as an elderly female housekeeper — that there were “several occasions” where he used up all...
“Early on in the process, [Williams] went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,’” Columbus said in a new interview with Business Insider commemorating the film’s 30th anniversary. “By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that’s exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted, and then Robin would go off and it was something to behold.”
Williams ad-libbed so much on the set of the 1993 comedy — in which he plays a newly-divorced actor digsuising himself as an elderly female housekeeper — that there were “several occasions” where he used up all...
- 11/22/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Film News
Each scene would have scripted takes and then Williams would ‘go off and it was something to behold’ says Chris Columbus
Robin Williams’ unpredictable and inexhaustible improvisation on hit comedy Mrs Doubtfire meant that film-makers shot “two million feet” of film during its production, according to its director Chris Columbus.
Columbus was speaking to Business Insider to mark the 30th anniversary of the film’s original release in 1993, and said more than 900 boxes of footage are in storage and could be used in a documentary about Williams’s process. “Footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage; it’s in a warehouse somewhere and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that … There is something special and magical about how he went about his work and I think it would be fun to delve into it.”...
Robin Williams’ unpredictable and inexhaustible improvisation on hit comedy Mrs Doubtfire meant that film-makers shot “two million feet” of film during its production, according to its director Chris Columbus.
Columbus was speaking to Business Insider to mark the 30th anniversary of the film’s original release in 1993, and said more than 900 boxes of footage are in storage and could be used in a documentary about Williams’s process. “Footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage; it’s in a warehouse somewhere and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that … There is something special and magical about how he went about his work and I think it would be fun to delve into it.”...
- 11/22/2023
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Director Chris Columbus, who is best known for directing the first two films of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, speaking on the 30th anniversary of his widely acclaimed comedy film ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’, recounted his time with actor-comedian Robin Williams, as well as the planned sequel to the film which unfortunately never happened.
Remembering the legendary comedian, Columbus spoke of his penchant for constant improvisation which led to several retakes, and many surprises as Williams would often deviate from the script to do his own thing.
“We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture. Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,” the ‘Home Alone’ director told Business Insider as per Deadline.
“Robin would change every take. So Robin would...
Remembering the legendary comedian, Columbus spoke of his penchant for constant improvisation which led to several retakes, and many surprises as Williams would often deviate from the script to do his own thing.
“We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture. Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,” the ‘Home Alone’ director told Business Insider as per Deadline.
“Robin would change every take. So Robin would...
- 11/22/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Director Chris Columbus, who is best known for directing the first two films of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, speaking on the 30th anniversary of his widely acclaimed comedy film ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’, recounted his time with actor-comedian Robin Williams, as well as the planned sequel to the film which unfortunately never happened.
Remembering the legendary comedian, Columbus spoke of his penchant for constant improvisation which led to several retakes, and many surprises as Williams would often deviate from the script to do his own thing.
“We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture. Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,” the ‘Home Alone’ director told Business Insider as per Deadline.
“Robin would change every take. So Robin would...
Remembering the legendary comedian, Columbus spoke of his penchant for constant improvisation which led to several retakes, and many surprises as Williams would often deviate from the script to do his own thing.
“We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture. Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,” the ‘Home Alone’ director told Business Insider as per Deadline.
“Robin would change every take. So Robin would...
- 11/22/2023
- by Agency News Desk
It’s been nine years since we said goodbye to Robin Williams, who left behind a highlight reel of hilarious scenes and moments of impassioned drama. And no compilation would be complete without any number of clips from 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire, which, probably for the better, never got a sequel despite being a hit with audiences, proving to be the #2 movie worldwide that year behind Jurassic Park.
As director Chris Columbus put it, “It’s an interesting thing. Back then, there was an attitude that sequels were looked down upon by the artists. So Robin was against doing a sequel immediately after.” Perhaps surprisingly, Williams only ever did a few sequels in his entire career: a Dtv Aladdin one, Happy Feet Two and a pair for Night at the Museum.
Of the many hysterical moments of Mrs. Doubtfire, one that Williams may have considered a favorite was the frantic scene in which his character,...
As director Chris Columbus put it, “It’s an interesting thing. Back then, there was an attitude that sequels were looked down upon by the artists. So Robin was against doing a sequel immediately after.” Perhaps surprisingly, Williams only ever did a few sequels in his entire career: a Dtv Aladdin one, Happy Feet Two and a pair for Night at the Museum.
Of the many hysterical moments of Mrs. Doubtfire, one that Williams may have considered a favorite was the frantic scene in which his character,...
- 11/22/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Robin Williams improvised enough for "almost two million feet" of 'Mrs Doubtfire' footage.Director Chris Columbus has recalled how late star Williams - who tragically took his own life aged 63 in 2014 - suggested working on "three or four scripted takes" before having some fun.Speaking to Business Insider, he said: "It got to the point that I had to shoot the entire movie with four cameras to keep up with him.“None of us knew what he was going to say when he got going and so I wanted a camera on the other actors to get their reactions…[The studio was] loving what they were seeing. Did they watch everything? I don’t think so. We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture.”Three decades later, Columbus has kept over 900 boxes of footage including heaps of outtakes and unseen behind the scenes clips, and he'd love to turn it all into a documentary.
- 11/22/2023
- by Alistair McGeorge
- Bang Showbiz
Director Chris Columbus shot more footage for Mrs Doubtfire than Francis Ford Coppola shot for Apocalypse Now.
The 1993 comedy Mrs Doubtfire proved to be one of the very biggest hits of the much-loved and much-missed Robin Williams’ career. Directed by Chris Columbus and famous in the UK for the muddle over its BBFC certificate – that we’ve charted here – it’s a film that’s very much endured. To the point where there’s now a hit musical based on the movie.
Chris Columbus has been chatting about the movie in an interesting new piece for Business Insider, and he’s unsurprisingly revealed that Williams did an awful lot of improvisation on the movie. So much so that, well, more material was shot for Mrs Doubtfire than Francis Ford Coppola shot for Apocalypse Now.
This was the days before digital filming of course, and thus magazines of film tended to...
The 1993 comedy Mrs Doubtfire proved to be one of the very biggest hits of the much-loved and much-missed Robin Williams’ career. Directed by Chris Columbus and famous in the UK for the muddle over its BBFC certificate – that we’ve charted here – it’s a film that’s very much endured. To the point where there’s now a hit musical based on the movie.
Chris Columbus has been chatting about the movie in an interesting new piece for Business Insider, and he’s unsurprisingly revealed that Williams did an awful lot of improvisation on the movie. So much so that, well, more material was shot for Mrs Doubtfire than Francis Ford Coppola shot for Apocalypse Now.
This was the days before digital filming of course, and thus magazines of film tended to...
- 11/22/2023
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
To celebrate Mrs. Doubtfire turning 30, director Chris Columbus shared insight into the making of the classic film starring comedy legend Robin Williams.
During an interview with Business Insider published Tuesday, Columbus revealed that William improvised so much during the making of the 1993 classic that nearly 2 million feet of film was shot.
Following the success of Good Morning, Vietnam — which resulted in Williams’ first Oscar nomination, for Best Actor — the actor starred in a slew of movies in a variety of roles including Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, The Fisher King, and Aladdin,...
During an interview with Business Insider published Tuesday, Columbus revealed that William improvised so much during the making of the 1993 classic that nearly 2 million feet of film was shot.
Following the success of Good Morning, Vietnam — which resulted in Williams’ first Oscar nomination, for Best Actor — the actor starred in a slew of movies in a variety of roles including Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, The Fisher King, and Aladdin,...
- 11/22/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Robin Williams was known to be a talent in improvisation and Mrs. Doubtfire director Chris Columbus is opening up about working with the late actor.
In a new interview to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the comedy, Columbus said that Williams improvised so much on set “We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture.”
“Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,'” Columbus told Business Insider. “By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that’s exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted, and then Robin would go off and it was something to behold.”
Columbus recalled that the script supervisor was not typing what Williams was...
In a new interview to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the comedy, Columbus said that Williams improvised so much on set “We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture.”
“Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,'” Columbus told Business Insider. “By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that’s exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted, and then Robin would go off and it was something to behold.”
Columbus recalled that the script supervisor was not typing what Williams was...
- 11/22/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
“Mrs. Doubtfire” director Chris Columbus marked the film’s 30th anniversary this month with a new interview courtesy of Business Insider, in which he revealed that 2 million feet of film was shot during the making of the 1993 comedy because Robin Williams improvised so much dialogue. The film is home to one of Williams’ most classic characters. He plays a recently-divorced actor who disguises himself as an elderly female housekeeper so that he can continue to see his children.
“Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,'” Columbus remembered about working with Williams. “By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that’s exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted,...
“Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,'” Columbus remembered about working with Williams. “By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that’s exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Chris Columbus says he has 972 boxes of footage ready to be used for a documentary about filming Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams.
The film’s director opened up about his doc dreams, along with those scrapped sequel plans and the two million feet of film he amassed while shooting Williams in a 30th anniversary piece published by Insider on Tuesday. The doc, in particular, was something Columbus says “we are talking about it and trying to get it done.”
“There are roughly 972 boxes of footage from Doubtfire — footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage — in a warehouse somewhere and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that,” he explained.
According to Columbus, the motivation for the documentary is to highlight and celebrate Williams’ process. “There is something special and magical about how he went about his work, and I think...
The film’s director opened up about his doc dreams, along with those scrapped sequel plans and the two million feet of film he amassed while shooting Williams in a 30th anniversary piece published by Insider on Tuesday. The doc, in particular, was something Columbus says “we are talking about it and trying to get it done.”
“There are roughly 972 boxes of footage from Doubtfire — footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage — in a warehouse somewhere and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that,” he explained.
According to Columbus, the motivation for the documentary is to highlight and celebrate Williams’ process. “There is something special and magical about how he went about his work, and I think...
- 11/21/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Before we knew about the beliefs of author J.K. Rowling, the world fell in love with the Harry Potter books. Then we got to see them on the big screen with the eight-film series. We were introduced to actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, and we got to see the magical school of our childhood dreams come to life.
The first two films about the boy wizard -- "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" -- were directed by Chris Columbus, who had no small amount of experience making movies that kids love. He is, of course, responsible for films like "Home Alone," "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," "Adventures in Babysitting," and "Mrs. Doubtfire." That didn't mean that he wasn't nervous about taking on a franchise like this, however. People, including myself, would line up at midnight in our...
The first two films about the boy wizard -- "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" -- were directed by Chris Columbus, who had no small amount of experience making movies that kids love. He is, of course, responsible for films like "Home Alone," "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," "Adventures in Babysitting," and "Mrs. Doubtfire." That didn't mean that he wasn't nervous about taking on a franchise like this, however. People, including myself, would line up at midnight in our...
- 9/19/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a Japanese zombie film with a bit of a twist. The Netflix film follows a young man who feels empty and has become a corporate drone but when a zombie apocalypse breaks loose he’s able to live freely and he takes full advantage of this to do everything he always wanted to do. So, if you loved Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead here are some similar movies that you should watch next.
Zombieland (Netflix) Credit – Sony Pictures
Synopsis: Nerdy college student Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has survived the plague that has turned mankind into flesh-devouring zombies because he’s scared of just about everything. Gun-toting, Twinkie-loving Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) has no fears. Together, they are about to stare down their most horrifying challenge yet: each other’s company. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin co-star in this double-hitting, head-smashing comedy.
Zombieland (Netflix) Credit – Sony Pictures
Synopsis: Nerdy college student Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has survived the plague that has turned mankind into flesh-devouring zombies because he’s scared of just about everything. Gun-toting, Twinkie-loving Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) has no fears. Together, they are about to stare down their most horrifying challenge yet: each other’s company. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin co-star in this double-hitting, head-smashing comedy.
- 8/6/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Daniel Radcliffe’s popular Harry Potter series boasted many memorable antagonists. Jason Isaacs’ Lucious Malfoy was one such character. But Isaacs’ wizard might have sounded much different if it wasn’t for Radcliffe’s involvement.
Jason Isaacs was horrified by Lucius Malfoy’s original look for ‘Harry Potter’ Jason Isaacs | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Isaacs played the father of Tom Felton’s Draco Malfoy in the popular Harry Potter series. Like Draco, Lucius was portrayed as arrogant and privileged thanks to being a part of a powerful wizard family. But the characters’ iconic look in the film might have looked quite different if Isaacs didn’t speak up about his appearance.
“I went to the set, and they had this idea of me wearing a pinstripe suit, short black-and-white hair,” Isaacs once recalled to Entertainment Weekly. “I was slightly horrified. He was a racist, a eugenicist. There’s no way he...
Jason Isaacs was horrified by Lucius Malfoy’s original look for ‘Harry Potter’ Jason Isaacs | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Isaacs played the father of Tom Felton’s Draco Malfoy in the popular Harry Potter series. Like Draco, Lucius was portrayed as arrogant and privileged thanks to being a part of a powerful wizard family. But the characters’ iconic look in the film might have looked quite different if Isaacs didn’t speak up about his appearance.
“I went to the set, and they had this idea of me wearing a pinstripe suit, short black-and-white hair,” Isaacs once recalled to Entertainment Weekly. “I was slightly horrified. He was a racist, a eugenicist. There’s no way he...
- 3/21/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.