Alfonso Cuaron says there was no way to go but darker for the third instalment of the Harry Potter movie saga.

Cuaron's Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, which opens in theatres today, has darker colours and darker themes as well as scarier monsters and scarier revelations.

"The subject matter dictated the darker tones and moods. Harry is growing up," Cuaron says.

"Because he is a teenager, everything in his perception of the world is becoming darker and more mature as he becomes more introspective."

Cuaron admits he was surprised when producer David Heyman sent him the script and offer for him to direct Azkaban.

"I was completely ignorant of the Harry Potter universe. I hadn't read the books or seen the first two films, so I didn't bother reading the script. I just added it to the pile of other scripts I was rejecting."

After his powerful coming-of-age road movie Y Tu Mama Tambien became an international hit, the Mexican director was besieged with offers from American and European film companies.

When Heyman didn't hear back from Cuaron he pleaded with the director just to read Azkaban, if nothing else.

"I read it as a favour to David and was completely enthralled by it. I immediately got a copy of the novel and was even more impressed, so I read all five of the books and watched the first two films."

Cuaron also arranged a meeting with Harry's creator, author J.K. Rowling.

"The first thing she told me was not to try to be literal with her novel but to be faithful to the spirit. She advised me to take short cuts, especially at the beginning of the film to get to Hogwarts as quickly as possible.

"That gave me such freedom, knowing she expected and welcomed an editing process."

Rowling also asked Cuaron to make adjustments to the characters' wardrobes and especially their school uniforms.

"She said students would never wear their uniforms exactly the same. They'd make adjustments that fit their personalities, and she asked me to allow them to wear street clothes for the scenes in which they visit the village."

Cuaron says the young actors were just as excited as he was with the idea they could personalize their uniforms.

"They wore their ties askew. Some kids chose to have their uniforms look more rumpled, and Rupert Grint -- who plays Ron Weasley -- made sure his shirt was always coming out of his pants."

When Rowling saw an early cut of the film she told Cuaron she was thrilled that "the kids looked like real kids. She then asked that we make the

Quidditch uniforms look more modern so we added stripes and numbers to them."

Cuaron says he had discussions with Heyman about directing the fourth film, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, but insists "they were very brief discussions early on.

"I think it would have been irresponsible of me to try to do the fourth film. I wouldn't have been able to spend as much time as I did in post-production for The Prisoner Of Azkaban, and I wouldn't have been able to put as much into the planning of The Goblet Of Fire as these films warrant."

Cuaron says he is looking forward to next "working on a small film, probably in Mexico.

"I don't think I could handle another big film for a little while."


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