When Warner Bros. and producer David Heyman searched for a director to launch the Harry Potter film franchise, Steven Spielberg emerged as the leading candidate after an intensive year-long selection process. The legendary filmmaker engaged substantively with the project and even considered adapting it as animation. His involvement ceased when Stanley Kubrick's death created an opening for Spielberg to take over directorial duties on Kubrick's planned final film, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, ultimately leading to Chris Columbus being appointed to direct the first Potter instalment.

The resulting science fiction film is now streamable through Paramount+ in the United States beginning August 2026. Starring Haley Joel Osment as an android in a distant future world, the movie represents one of his finest on-screen achievements, building on his prior breakthrough in The Sixth Sense and showcasing his development as a performer.