Steven Spielberg Says He’s ‘Very Happy’ He Turned Down ‘Harry Potter’ Franchise To Spend Time With Young Family

Three-time Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg recently admitted that he doesn’t regret turning down the chance to work on “Harry Potter.”

The 76 year-old Hollywood legend could have been part a successful franchise based off the best-selling books. But he claims he prefers time with his family. 

Spielberg Telled “RRR” Director S.S. Rajamouli was the first “Harry Potter” He turned down many films when his children were younger, including installment. The “Jaws” Director says he made the right decision.

“There were several films I chose not to make,” Spielberg said while promoting the release of his semi-autobiographical film, “The Fabelmans,” India “They offered me ‘Harry Potter’ and I chose to turn down the first ‘Harry Potter’ to basically spend the next year and a half with my family, my young kids growing up.”

“So, I sacrificed a great franchise — which today looking back I’m very happy to have done — to be with my family,” He continued.

“Kate [Capshaw] and I started raising a family and we started having children,” Spielberg continued. “The choice I had to make in taking a job that would move me to another country for four or five months where I wouldn’t see my family every day.”

He continued to mention that his family was often involved in big-budget movies overseas during his career. For example, when he and his family moved to Poland for four months to film the Oscar-winning drama, he said. “Schindler’s List.” 

The first and the second movies in this franchise. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” 2001 “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002), both were directed by Chris Columbus.

Spielberg has seven children, one of which is his stepchild. 

The Academy-winning Director previously talked about refusing to accept the award. “Harry Potter” franchise, saying his kids didn’t necessarily agree with that decision.

“I just felt that I wasn’t ready to make an all-kids movie, and my kids thought I was crazy. And the books were by that time popular, so when I dropped out, I knew it was going to be a phenomenon,” He Telled Digital Spy 2012