Warner Bros. had quite the task on their hands when they endeavoured to bring the magical world of Harry Potter to life on the big screen following the incomparable success of the book series. As to be expected, author J.K. Rowling had a large influence on how the films were created and who was cast and often put her foot down on actors the studio turned to first. Unsurprisingly, many fans of the books took issue with how certain things and people were depicted on-screen and, of course, with omissions that were taken. It turns out that lot of Hollywood’s finest were eyeing up roles in what was sure to be one of the biggest film franchises of the decade, and while the end result pleased many people, it could have looked and been quite different had these people been cast instead. Check out 12 actors who almost landed a part in the Harry Potter film series!
12. Rosamund Pike – Rita Skeeter
Before her big roles in Jack Reacher and Wrath of the Titans, and of course, her breakout role in Gone Girl, Rosamund Pike was the first actress considered for the part of gossip journalist Rita Skeeter in 2004’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Fresh off the success of her part in Die Another Day, Pike was hesitant to take the part after learning it also contracted her to the fifth film even though the role was rather small, and so she ended up rejecting it. As a result, Miranda Richardson was cast instead, but the studio also reduced the role further after not getting their first choice and fans were shocked by how minimal a part Skeeter’s character was given versus her roles in the novels.
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