J. K. Rowling scripted by Steve Kloves; Rowling assisted him in the writing process, ensuring that his scripts did not contradict future books in the series. She told Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) certain secrets about their characters before they were revealed in the books. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) asked her if Harry died at any point in the series; Rowling answered him by saying, "You have a death scene", thereby not explicitly answering the question. Director Steven Spielberg was approached to direct the first film, but dropped out. The press has repeatedly claimed that Rowling played a role in
The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter approval from Rowling, and has since received positive reviews from critics. An updated version of "The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter" was published in 2004 by Berkley Books. "The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter" explores the references to history, legends, and literature in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" novels. David Colbert, the author of the book, told the "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" that the "Harry Potter" novels "are [...] literary treasure hunts for [Rowling's] readers. What seem like funny-sounding names and places and excursions into fantasy all have a basis in either history, myth or legend." He added, however, that he thinks