Summary
The original Harry Potter movies owe their success to some genius casting decisions, and the upcoming HBO remake should follow suit. Warner Bros has a tough job ahead of it in continuing the legacy of Harry’s story, and there are several ways that things could go wrong. The promise of a true-to-source TV remake means the opportunity for cut book scenes to finally make it to the screen, but starting over will mean the familiar faces of the Harry Potter cast will no longer be there. Recasting will be challenging, but if the remake takes inspiration from the casting choices of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, things might work out.
Back when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone hit the screen in 2001, names like Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson were relatively unknown. Such young actors hadn’t had a chance to prove themselves, so there was little chance that the performers portraying Harry, Ron, and Hermione would bring an existing fan base to the budding franchise. However, director Chris Columbus chose to bring in legendary British actors for the adult roles, thus drawing in a broader audience and framing the Harry Potter films to be for more than just kids. Now, going into HBO’s Harry Potter TV remake, something similar can be done again.
The Harry Potter Remake Must Cast Familiar Actors For The Adult Roles
Actors like Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), and Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley), to name a few, had earned respect and adoration long before being cast in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Nearly every adult actor in the film had icon status, which meant that even audiences unfamiliar with the Harry Potter books would be interested in buying a ticket to see the new film in theaters. As the movie series continued, stars like Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson grew and were able to hold the films up on their own with their ever-developing acting skills. Still, the early Harry Potter movies couldn’t have worked without the legendary adult cast.
Now, as HBO and Warner Bros work on replacing the Harry Potter cast for the remake, the same is necessary. New young stars will be brought in to take on the student roles, and this will be even more uncomfortable for fans than back in 2001 since they are now used to a certain standard of acting in the franchise. This means that seasoned, familiar, and beloved actors will once again be necessary for the adult roles to carry the plot until the young stars can do so on their own.
Can Any Movie Actors Reprise Their Adult Roles In The Harry Potter Remake?
Of course, there is a massive pool of actors that could be brought in for these adult roles in the Harry Potter remake, but it may not be enough this time around to bring in just any icon-status performers. Fans will be looking for a certain level of nostalgia when restarting the series, so it could be a benefit to bring back some of the stars from the original movies. Still, with over 20 years having come and gone, this won’t be easy to do. Harry Potter fans have had to say goodbye to actors like Rickman, Coltrain, and, most recently, Michael Gambon.
Still, there are a few Harry Potter actors that could return for the remake. David Bradley would still make an excellent Argus Filch, Miriam Margolyes could reprise her role as Professor Sprout, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else as Professor Trelawney other than Emma Thompson. Additionally, it’s always possible that those who came to Harry Potter as children with minimal experience could now return to take on adult roles. Tom Felton may enjoy playing his old character’s father, Lucius Malfoy, and either James or Oliver Phelps could be the perfect Mr. Weasley. It depends on who is available to return for the Harry Potter remake, but a few familiar faces would be a welcomed sight.
