14 Actors You Never Knew Almost Played Your Favorite "Harry Potter" Characters
When it comes to the Harry Potter franchise, we like to think we know it back to front, word for word and are more familiar with it than we are with our own feet. But from with these actors that nearly played other characters, it turns out we actually didn't have a clue these people auditioned for our fave HP characters.
Liam Aiken as Harry Potter
Liam Aiken, who is six months younger than Daniel Radcliffe, worked with Harry Potter director Chris Columbus on Stepmom so was thought to be considered for the role — but missed out when J.K Rowling decided she wanted a full British cast.
Jamie Campbell-Bower as Tom Riddle
Could you imagine? The Mortal Instruments actor originally auditioned for the role of a young Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince but didn't get the role. Instead, he got the call up for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, gracing us with his presence as Gellert Grindelwald.
Jennifer Saunders as Narcisa Malfoy
Along with Naomi Watts and Alison Doody, Jennifer Saunders was rumored to be up for the role of Draco's mother, and although her reps never denied the claim, she wasn't successful. Agh.
Hugh Grant as Gilderoy Lockhart
Oh could you imagine? In a weird turn of events, Hugh Grant nearly played the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor but had to drop out due to scheduling problems, leaving Kenneth Branagh to take his place.
Ian McKellen as Albus Dumbledore
Following Richard Harris', who played Dumbledore in the first two films, death, Ian McKellen was offered the role, but he turned it down because he felt it was too similar to Gandalf from The Lord of The Rings.
Helen McCrory as Bellatrix Lestrange
Helen actually HAD the role in the bag, but was forced to pull out of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when she fell pregnant with her first child. Instead, Helena Bonham Carter reprised the role, and Helen played her sister Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Tim Roth as Severus Snape
Oh whaddaya know, Tim Roth off of Pulp Fiction fame TURNED DOWN the role of Snape for a stint in Planet of the Apes, allowing the wonderful Alan Rickman to kill it on the big screen instead.
Billy Connolly as Xenophilius Lovegood
Rhys Ifans grabbed the part of Luna's father over Billy Connolly, although the reason is relatively unknown why.
The Late Robin Williams as Hagrid
The late Robin Williams was considered as Hagrid, but later lost out when J.K Rowling requested an all British cast for the UK film franchise.
Bob Hoskins as Horace Slughorn
Bob Hoskins was strongly considered for the role of Horace Slughorn, but eventually lost out to Jim Broadbent who was cast instead.
Ray Winstone as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody
Billy Connolly — who we mentioned auditioned to play Xenophilius Lovegood — and Ray Winstone were also rumored to play Mad-Eye. Despite it ultimately going to Brendan Gleeson, we think Ray would have made an incredible Moody.
Rosamund Pike as Rita Skeeter
Rosamund Pike auditioned to play Rita Skeeter, but shot down any chances of doing so when she found out how minimal and negligible her scenes would be. Eventually, the role went to Miranda Richardson instead.
Tilda Swinton as Sybil Trelawney
Now *this* is something we could have definitely got on board with, but the role eventually went to Emma Thompson who pulled it off with perfection anyway.
David Thewlis as Quirnus Quirrell
Yup, David Thewlis auditioned for the part of Quirinus Quirrell that later went to Ian Hart - but it worked out quite well when he snatched up an even bigger role as Remus Lupin for the last 5 movies. Yaaas.
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