Random Actors Who Were Incredibly Close To Playing Harry Potter Characters (20 items)

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  (#1) Peter O'Toole

  • Dec. at 81 (1932-2013)

  Richard Harris originated the role of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, but he passed away after the second movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Peter O'Toole was considered for the new Dumbledore - he had been close friends with Harris. O'Toole, however, politely refused. The role went to Michael Gambon instead.
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  (#2) J. K. Rowling

  • 53

  J.K. Rowling nearly played Harry's mother Lily in the first Harry Potter movie. That would have led to some mind-bending symmetry, but Rowling refused, saying, "I really am not cut out to be an actress."
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  (#3) Tim Roth

  • 57

  In 2016, Tim Roth revealed that he had been offered the role of Severus Snape. He turned down the role to be in Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake, saying, "I wasn't ready to be on a lunchbox." He added, "The right guy got the role" - meaning Alan Rickman, who brought new, soulful depths to the character of the complicated Potions master.
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  (#4) Liam Aiken

  • 29

  J.K. Rowling made no secret of the fact that she wanted an all-British cast for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. So she said no when director Chris Columbus suggested casting American-born Liam Aiken, a young actor who had starred in Stepmom, as Harry. The role went to Daniel Radcliffe instead.
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  (#5) Kate Winslet

  • 43

  According to reports, Kate Winslet was asked to appear as the ghost of Rowena Ravenclaw in the final Harry Potter film. Apparently, her reps rejected the offer without even telling her.
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  (#6) Ian McKellen

  • 79

  Sir Ian McKellen proved he knew his way around a wizardly role with The Lord of the Rings. He was reportedly offered the part of Dumbledore after Richard Harris passed away, but politely turned it down. His reason? Harris didn't approve of his acting, and McKellen didn't think it would be appropriate to take over his character.
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  (#7) Hatty Jones

  • 27

  Hatty Jones starred in the 1998 film version of Madeline. She auditioned for the role of Hermione, and seemed a shoo-in for the role, but the part went to the unknown Emma Watson instead.
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  (#8) Robin Williams

  • Dec. at 63 (1951-2014)

  Apparently, Robin Williams reached out to Warner Bros. with an offer to play Hagrid. But the studio decided to enforce a strict "Brits only" policy, and the role of the half-giant caretaker went to Robbie Coltrane instead.
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  (#9) Tilda Swinton

  • 58

  Tilda Swinton and Emma Thompson frequently play oddball characters. So perhaps it's not surprising that both were considered for the role of Sybill Trelawney, Hogwart's resident Divinations professor.
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  (#10) Hugh Grant

  • 58

  Kenneth Branagh played Gilderoy Lockhart, the vain, exaggeration-prone Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, with a particular flair. But the role was first intended for Hugh Grant - he apparently had to bow out due to a scheduling conflict.
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  (#11) Rosamund Pike

  • 40

  Rita Skeeter is the wizarding world's nosiest reporter. Rosamund Pike was offered the part, but ultimately didn't accept it due to scheduling concerns. The role went to Miranda Richardson.
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  (#12) Billy Connolly

  • 76

  Billy Connelly was rumored to be considered for the part of Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna's father and a kook in his own right. However, the part went to Rhys Ifans instead.
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  (#13) Naomi Watts

  • 50

  According to early reports, Naomi Watts signed on to play Narcissa Malfoy, mother of the loathed Draco. However, her team ended up rejecting the role, and it went to Helen McRory instead.
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  (#14) Bob Hoskins

  • Dec. at 72 (1942-2014)

  Professor Slughorn shows up in the fifth Harry Potter movie, in which he introduces the crucial concept of Horcruxes. Bob Hoskins - AKA Smee in Hook - almost got the role, but it ultimately went to Jim Broadbent.
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  (#15) Robson Green

  • 54

  Veteran television actor Robson Green was apparently considered for the role of misunderstood Animagus Sirius Black, but Gary Oldman ended up playing the character instead.
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  (#16) David Walliams

  • 47

  Actor, comedian, and children's author David Walliams was almost cast as Barty Crouch, Jr., but the brief - but memorable - role went to David Tennant instead.
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  (#17) Richard E. Grant

  • 61

  Jason Isaacs has made a career of playing icy villains. So it's probably for the best that he got the role of Lucius Malfoy over Richard E. Grant.
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  (#18) David Thewlis

  • 55

  Professor Lupin was almost Professor Quirrell. David Thewlis originally auditioned for the part of the jittery Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Instead, he got the much meatier role of Remus Lupin, the reluctant werewolf. Ian Hart played Quirrell in the first film.
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  (#19) Jamie Campbell Bower

  • 30

  Jamie Campbell-Bower was considered to play the role of young Tom Riddle. He lost out on that part - it went to Frank Dillane - but Campbell-Bower still got to be a villain. He appeared as the young Gellert Grindewald in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

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