When hiring performers for a great hit like Harry Potter, many criteria come into play. These decisions are frequently so well-made that the audience develops a strong bond with the character. It’s difficult to separate the actor’s image from their on-screen part because of this strong bond. Can you fathom a Harry Potter who isn’t played by Daniel Radcliffe, or a Hermione who isn’t played by Emma Watson? Even if many of us believe that these performers were “born” to portray these roles, it is probable that the producers did not agree at first and chose someone else on multiple occasions. It’s difficult to believe, but it’s true.
Actors Who Almost Played Key Characters in “Harry Potter”
1. Ian McKellen — Albus Dumbledore
After actor Richard Harris, the then-Dumbledore interpreter, sadly passed away, Sir Ian McKellen, famed for his spectacular performances in movies like The Lord of the Rings and The Da Vinci Code, as well as in numerous theatre plays, was invited to bring the famed wizard Albus Dumbledore to the big screen. This occurred in 2002, but McKellen was faced with a difficult decision, and he chose to decline the offer.
It all began when Richard Harris stated, back in the day, that though McKellan was a wonderful actor in terms of skill, he lacked emotion when acting. McKellan had to determine whether or not he wanted to carry on the legacy of a man who despised him as a performer. We’ve all heard the finish of the storey. McKellen said he “couldn’t take on the part of an actor who didn’t approve of me,” and that he “couldn’t take on the part of an actor who didn’t approve of me.” While we all agree he would have been fantastic in the role of Dumbledore, Michael Gambon was ultimately cast.
2. Saoirse Ronan — Luna Lovegood
Saoirse Ronan rose to prominence with roles in films such as The Lovely Bones and Little Women. Few people are aware, however, that she auditioned for the role of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series. Unfortunately, she did not obtain the part, which went to Evanna Lynch since she was hand-picked by J.K. Rowling, the story’s writer. Lynch, she believes, was the ideal choice to play this role.
Saoirse, on the other hand, acknowledged to being unhappy when she realised she had not been picked. “I was too young — but at the time I thought, ‘I’d love to be in Harry Potter,’” Ronan remarked in an interview. I used to believe they had the best job in the world when I was younger.” We wonder what a Luna played by Saoirse Ronan would look like now, with more than three Oscar nominations under her belt, and what feel she would have imparted to the entire trilogy.
3. Liam Aiken — Harry Potter
Originally, Liam Aiken, hero of the saga A Series of Unfortunate Events, was set to play Harry Potter in the big picture adaptation. J.K. Rowling, on the other hand, got her say once again, and that changed everything. The writer insisted that the whole cast of the film be made up of British actors. This immediately ruled out Aiken, allowing British actor Daniel Radcliff, who was only 11 years old at the time, to receive the role that would define his career.
J.K. Rowling reportedly called producer Chris Columbus, who was in charge of converting her books to the big screen, solely to make sure Aiken didn’t win the part, according to the British daily The Guardian. Rowling’s choice is thought to have been motivated by a desire to guarantee that the films stayed true to the novels, which were intended to be British in every sense of the word. It’s doubtful whether Aiken could have given a better performance than Radcliff, who did a fantastic job in any way.
4. Robin Williams — Rubeus Hagrid
J. K. Rowling was emphatic once again that the film based on the world’s most renowned wizard not be cast with American actors… As a British woman, she put a lot of pressure on the production staff to provide exactly what she desired. In the end, she got her way: the cast was exclusively made up of British actors, which gave the films a distinct vibe. So, in addition to Liam Aiken, the renowned Rubeus Hagrid, played by Robin Williams, was axed from the franchise. Robbie Coltrane portrayed this renowned role with amazing dexterity in the end. We are confident that, like Coltrane, Williams would have performed admirably!
5. Helen McCrory — Bellatrix Lestrange
Helen McCrory was supposed to play Bellatrix Lestrange, the great and terrifying witch. J.K. Rowling had no veto power over McCrory because he is an Englishman. However, the star of Netflix’s drama series Peaky Blinders became pregnant during the filming of the Harry Potter films. There’s certainly no better excuse to stop playing such a fantastic role. Helena Bonham Carter eventually replaced McCrory, and she gave one of the best performances of the series. McCrory had yet to say her final comments on the subject. Fortunately for us, she returned to the cast in the last three films, this time as Narcissa Malfoy.
6. Henry Cavill — Cedric Diggory
Things weren’t looking so well for Cavill before he became the legendary Superman who captivated the hearts of millions of fans around the world. Cavill, in fact, lost not one, but two roles to Robert Pattinson. The first is maybe less well-known among the general population. He auditioned for the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and was cast. The storey of the second part he lost to Pattinson is well-known. Cavill came close to portraying Edward Cullen, the main character in the Twilight franchise.
In fact, he was the first choice of author Stephenie Meyer, creator of the “Cullen universe,” for the latter. However, as you are probably aware, Pattinson was cast in both roles in the end. Cavill regarded the rejections as “something excellent” that had occurred in his life. After all, everything happens in its own time, and there’s no need to rush things.
7. Hatty Jones — Hermione Granger
Producers struggled to choose between two young actors who were equally qualified to play Hogwarts’ wiser sorceress, Hermione Granger: Hatty Jones, star of the feature film Madeline, and Emma Watson, who was previously unknown. Surprisingly, casting director Janet Hirshenson’s impressions of Emma were used to make the decision. Hirshernson thought the young woman would add a much-needed “dark” element to the plot. In the end, it appears that she made the right decision, as Watson’s skills and sensitive nature allowed her to steal the audience’s hearts and souls.
During an interview, Hirshenson said, “A star is born.” Hirshenson’s choice was so spot-on that it’s difficult to envision anyone else playing Hermione today.
8. Jamie Campbell Bower — Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort when he was a young man)
Most likely, actor Jamie Campbell Bower is a huge fan of the magical sagas. Not only was he a member of the Twilight cast, but he also appeared in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Of course, he had no idea at the time that he would go on to star in subsequent films based on J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a spin-off series from the Harry Potter universe. In both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, he played Grindelwald.
And we’re stating that to clarify something that many people don’t know: Jamie Campbell Bower had auditioned for the character of the young Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort) in the fifth Harry Potter film before earning that role. Not only that, but he was also featured in the magazine Teen Vogue. He was ultimately passed up for the part, though the reasons behind his rejection are unknown. As you may be aware, Frank Dillane was cast in the part.
9. Eddie Redmayne — Another version of Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort when he was a teenager)
Jamie Campbell Bower wasn’t the only actor who wanted to play Lord Voldemort, also known as Tom Riddle, the young version of Harry Potter’s enemy. Eddie Redmayne, like Campbell Bower, didn’t get the part of the larger-than-life villain, but his patience paid off when he was cast in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy, this time as Newt Scamander, the main character.
Eddie claimed in an interview that, despite not receiving any feedback after the audition, he had a light of optimism glowing deep inside his soul that he would at least be cast as a member of the Weasley family throughout the years. Of course, this did not happen, as we all know. But, thankfully, this excellent actor was able to play his part in a J. K. Rowling universe, and he did a fantastic job. Christian Coulson was cast as Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the end.
10. Tilda Swinton — Sybill Trelawney
Professor Sybill Trelawney was played by Oscar winner Emma Thompson. The character was first given to fellow Golden Statuette winner Tilda Swinton, who turned it down, before the producers and Thompson reached an agreement. While her decision may appear bizarre in retrospect, Swinton noted in an interview that the series idealised boarding school life, and she didn’t want to be a part of it:
“I believe that this is a really terrible environment in which children must grow up, and that it is not conducive to their education.” We’re not sure if Swinton was correct in declining the role, but one thing we can all agree on is that Emma Thompson would have been as excellent for the part as Swinton would have been if she had accepted it.
11. Jason Isaacs — Gilderoy Lockhart
Jason Isaacs, who is best known for his portrayal as Lucius Malfoy, originally wanted to play Gilderoy Lockhart, a half-blood wizard. However, the producers believed that Isaacs would be a better fit for Draco Malfoy’s father, as well as one of Potter’s most formidable foes throughout the series. The irony is that the actor was already set to play Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the time, so he didn’t want to be associated with the image of two infantile villains. This was the basis for his decision to decline the position in the first place.
Fortunately for us and other Potterheads, Isaacs’ family intervened and persuaded him to portray the wizard with the long, straight blond hair. “Everyone who knew me called me over the weekend: nieces, nephews, godchildren, and then their parents,” he explained. “They all attempted to encourage me to take the job, not because they cared about me, but because they wanted to come to the set!” he joked.
12. Kate Winslet — Helena Ravenclaw
When one of the most popular sagas of the time came to a close, the producers felt compelled to come up with a memorable way to say farewell. They wanted every element to be right, which included finding an actress who could match Helena Ravenclaw’s magnificence, a figure whose role in the storey was relatively brief but crucial. Kate Winslet was at the very top of the list. Her agent, unfortunately, rejected the script before even asking if she was interested in participating in the project. As a result, Kelly Macdonald, who is equally outstanding, was cast as the Grey Lady.
13. Thomas Brodie-Sangster — Ron Weasley
On the big screen, Thomas Brodie-Sangster confessed that he would have loved to play Ron Weasley. Not only that, but he really tried it and lost out to Rupert Grint, the small redhead who is now well-known to all Star Wars fans. Despite failing the test, the Nanny McPhee actor remarked that his first “difficult” experience of rejection in the entertainment industry “enabled him to keep a more ‘optimistic’ mindset during audition rounds for subsequent jobs.” “Every cloud has a silver lining,” as the cliché goes.
14. Tom Felton — Ron Weasley and Harry Potter
It may be difficult to believe, but it is true. Tom Felton tried out for roles like Ron Weasley and even Harry Potter before landing the role of Draco Malfoy. Despite not being cast in either role, the actor believes there was no animosity or competition between him and Radcliffe or Grint behind the scenes. On the contrary, he was overjoyed at the prospect of appearing in a film at all. He said, “I’m even more grateful that I got the character of Draco, since there was a fantastic sense of being on a team.” And, as Felton mentioned, it appears that the decisions were spot on, since each of the actors becomes a living legend in their own right.
Bonus-Producers requested J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter universe, to play Lily, the mother of The Boy Who Lived.
There’s no disputing that J. K. Rowling and Geraldine Somerville share a lot of similarities. Perhaps this is why the saga’s producers wanted the writer to play Lily Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone because she suited “the profile” so well. “The filmmakers did want me to play Lily Potter in the first film, but I really am not cut out to be an actress, even if I simply have to stand there and wave,” Rowling respectfully declined. I’d have botched it up in some way.” It’s hard to imagine we may have missed out on seeing J. K. Rowling on the big screen, but it’s true. And we believe she would have done an excellent job.
The majority of people believe that the cast for the Harry Potter films was chosen wisely. Do you agree, or do you think someone else could have done a better job? Is there someone you’d have liked to see on the big screen performing a spell?
Preview photo credit Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone / Warner Bros. and co-producers, Madeline / Jaffilms and co-producers
