The cast of ‘Harry Potter’ are such familiar faces today that it is hard to imagine anyone but them in these iconic roles. But that wasn’t the case back in the early 2000s, when the casting call went out, and several faces showed up.
Some were hopeful actors wanting to get a role in their favourite magical world; others were iconic actors being considered by the producers themselves. Here are 10 actors who came very close to joining the world of Hogwarts and you almost saw them in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise.
10. Tim Roth as Severus Snape
Before Alan Rickman brought Severus Snape to life in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, actor Tim Roth was reportedly considered for the iconic Potions professor. It is difficult to imagine anyone else in the role, but Roth was a genuine contender.
He ultimately turned it down and chose to work with Tim Burton on ‘Planet of the Apes’ instead. Later, Roth admitted that his version of Snape would have been very different from the one we see Rickman play.
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9. Jamie Campbell Bower as Tom Riddle
Best known for his role in ‘Stranger Things’ today, Jamie Campbell Bower was actually a very familiar face in the early 2000s. From ‘Twilight’ to ‘Harry Potter’, he was joining iconic franchises left and right.
He once auditioned to play the role of young Tom Riddle, the role that ultimately went to Frank Dillane. But Bower still found his way into the wizarding world when he later got the part of a young Gellert Grindelwald in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1’.
8. Saoirse Ronan as Luna Lovegood
Ronan was almost cast as the aloof yet endearingly bizarre Luna Lovegood, a role that eventually went to Evanna Lynch. She was very eager to land the part and hoped to play the role from the beginning.
But even Ronan knew that her age would work against her. Still, she has stated in interviews that she treasures the experience, even joking that it seemed like half of Ireland had turned up to audition for the movies.
7. Rosamund Pike as Rita Skeeter
The Oscar-nominated actress is known today for portraying complex and morally ambiguous women. She was reportedly considered for the role of Rita Skeeter, the sharp-tongued and scheming tabloid reporter.
The part ultimately went to Miranda Richardson, who brilliantly brought out just the right balance of the reporter’s annoying and manipulative personality to life. Pike could have given the character a very different edge.
6. Eddie Redmayne as Tom Riddle
It’s hard to imagine Hufflepuff Newt Scamander as the heir of Slytherin, but Eddie Redmayne did audition for the part of Tom Riddle. He revealed that he “properly failed” the audition and never received a call back.
Redmayne later revealed that he also hoped to join the Weasley family, though that never happened either. Instead, he eventually found his perfect wizarding role as Newt Scamander, while Christian Coulson got the part of Riddle.
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5. Kate Winslet as Helena Ravenclaw
Winslet was reportedly considered for the role of Helena Ravenclaw, the daughter of Hogwarts founder Rowena Ravenclaw, who appears during a crucial moment in the franchise’s finale.
According to reports, Winslet’s agent rejected the offer before she even saw it, believing the Oscar-winning actress would not want to join the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise just like every other British actor.
4. Robin Williams as Rubeus Hagrid
The legendary Robin Williams himself wanted to play the lovable giant Rubeus Hagrid and was very eager to join the franchise. But he ultimately never got cast because of the production’s very strict “only British” policy.
The role ultimately went to Robbie Coltrane. Williams’ enthusiasm just couldn’t overcome the casting restrictions. His version of the fan-favourite character remains something we would never get to see.
3. Hugh Grant as Gilderoy Lockhart
It isn’t a surprise why this rom-com heartthrob was considered for the pompous and hilariously self-obsessed Gilderoy Lockhart. He had that charming and charismatic presence and a humorous personality.
However, the role ultimately went to Kenneth Branagh. Grant reportedly turned down the part because he was committed to another romantic-comedy with Sandra Bullock, which was likely ‘Two Weeks Notice’.
2. Henry Cavill as Cedric Diggory
Before becoming Superman, Henry Cavill was reportedly considered for the role of Cedric Diggory in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’. The part ultimately went to Robert Pattinson, who made Cedric an instantly memorable character.
Interestingly, Cavill was also considered for the role of Edward Cullen in the ‘Twilight’ franchise. Though it once again went to Robert Pattinson. As iconic as Pattinson’s performance remains, it is fascinating to imagine Cavill as the handsome Hufflepuff champion.
1. J.K. Rowling as Lily Potter
Rowling herself was offered the chance to play Lily Potter in one of ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’s most emotional scenes, when Harry sees his parent in the Mirror of Erised.
However, the author turned down the opportunity, stating she was not cut out to be an actress. The role ultimately went to Geraldine Somerville, who brilliantly portrayed Harry’s mother throughout the franchise.
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