Alfonso Cuarón, the acclaimed Mexican filmmaker, almost turned down the opportunity to direct 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban until his fellow filmmaker Guillermo del Toro intervened.

Reflecting on the 20th anniversary of the hit movie franchise’s third installment, Cuarón revealed in an interview with Total Film that he initially hesitated to accept the directing job, as he wasn’t familiar with the Wizarding World.

“It was completely not on my radar,” Cuarón admitted, especially since his previous project was the Spanish-language erotic drama Y Tu Mamá También. He confided in del Toro about his confusion over the offer, to which del Toro responded with blunt honesty.

“Wait, wait, wait, you said you haven’t read Harry Potter?” del Toro questioned. When Cuarón confirmed, del Toro, in his colorful Spanish, described him as “an arrogant asshole,” urging him to reconsider.

Despite Cuarón’s initial doubts, David Heyman, a producer on all eight Harry Potter installments, believed Cuarón was the perfect fit for Prisoner of Azkaban. Heyman admired Cuarón’s work, particularly Y Tu Mamá También, and felt he could bring a contemporary feel to the franchise.

While some might have questioned the choice, Heyman saw potential in Cuarón’s direction, envisioning a fresh perspective for Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s teenage journey. He believed Cuarón’s cinematic style would elevate the storytelling.

Although Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban didn’t perform as strongly at the box office compared to other films in the series, it still garnered over $796 million worldwide, showcasing Cuarón’s ability to infuse his unique vision into the magical world of Harry Potter.