Wizard’s Council: Dreamcasting Potter Roles

Our wizard’s council considers this week’s philosophical question: Who would we like to see cast as characters who went unseen in the films?

Welcome to the Wizard’s Council. Back in olden days, before the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy in 1692, the Wizarding world was governed by the Wizard’s Council. This was the longest serving ruling body over the Wizarding World in history, and though it was disbanded in 1707 with the founding of the Ministry of Magic, it was still considered one of the wisest and august bodies to ever rule the UK and Irish Wizarding Worlds. (Sadly, the same cannot be said for the Ministry, which seems to only be as good as its current Minister.) Here at Wizards and Whatnot, we come together once again as this august body to think deeply on the issues of our time.

Philosophical Question of the Hour: Dreamcasting is no joke, especially when it comes to characters as beloved as those in Harry Potter. Who would we like to see cast as characters who went unseen in the films?

Which performers of our age do we think best suit the likes of the Hogwarts founders, Marauders’ Era, and/or the Next Generation? Would we have liked to see anyone else embody the characters who were brought to life on the big screen?

Image via Warner Brothers

DAN: I always thought it was a shame that Professor Binns wasn’t depicted in the Harry Potter movies. I mean, I get it. He wasn’t that important to that plot. He basically does one thing of significance throughout all seven books–tell the kids about the Chamber of Secrets–and Warner Bros. gave that bit to Professor McGonagall without complaint. But still, I always liked the idea of a history teacher so old he likely lived through a lot of the events he’s talking about. Also, the idea of a boring ghost is funny. Surely the series could have milked a few laughs out of the character.

How about Ian Holm for Professor Binns? Now, as an experienced actor, Holm can do any number of things, but I’m basing this mainly off his performances in The Lord of the Rings and The Fifth Element, where he proved that he can do scholarly and spacey. If he can layer disinterested over that, he’ll be home free.

I’m less disappointed that Peeves didn’t end up in the movies. (Actor Rik Mayall was cast, but his scenes were cut.) I never quite got on board with the character, and suspect he would have played awkwardly onscreen. If you disagree, I invite you to look at the concept art for the film version of the character. After you’re done screaming, we can talk again.

Image via Warner Brothers

AYESHA: Funnily enough, when the dreamcasting question comes up, my mind automatically jumps to existing characters in the Warner Bros. films. In large part because I have moved towards interpreting more characters as people of colour. Bearing that in mind, some of my suggestions may come across as a little niche.

If I were to re-do a scene from the films, I’d choose Snape’s Worst Memory, so I’d definitely like to recast Harry’s parents. While Bob Morley makes a picturesque James Potter, I’m currently a fan of Indian actor Harsh Rajput with his ever-changing black hair and hazel eyes. For his counterpart, I personally love Carmen Lee Solomons as Lily Evans. Dark red hair and striking green eyes fit the bill. Though they’re both older than the teens that we seen in SWM, Warner Bros.’ Teenage James and Lily were in their 20s too. Of course, then young Harry would have to reflect these changes, but Daniel Radcliffe didn’t exactly have messy black hair and green eyes either.

As for characters who were left out of the films completely, it would’ve been nice to see Ted Tonks in Deathly Hallows: Part 1. The whole Tonks family is pretty shoved aside in favour of having a simpler storyline for Remus and Tonks’ marriage. I’d suggest Kenneth Branagh if he hadn’t already made his appearance as Gilderoy Lockhart. He’s certainly got fair hair and a smiling face. A possible alternative is Sean Bean. After all, Bean has a penchant for playing doomed men.

Image via Warner Brothers

RACHEL: In dream casting, I’ve only ever looked to what I wanted Sirius Black to be. I loved Gary Oldman but he was too old to be playing Sirius so I have some suggestions on who should play him in a Marauder’s series. We have two options: Time travel back in time and grab young Gary Oldman or cast an unknown actor. All the options we have out there don’t appeal to Sirius, to me.

Sirius Black is the most important character in the Harry Potter franchise. Maybe that’s just my opinion but still, I believe it to be true. And like Sirius, the actor portraying him needs to be mysterious and I believe that an unknown actor would do the character more justice than someone who has been dream cast as such for the last 10 plus years.

Kelly: This is very interesting, but also very difficult! I know J.K. Rowling was adamant about using British actors for the Harry potter series, so I’m going to stick with that since I don’t think she would want it any other way. Warning: This was a lot harder than I thought and I could only think of actors from Game of Thrones and Outlander while writing this…

Young Sirius Black: Kit Harington aka Jon Snow. Why not, right? Who wouldn’t love to see a bit more of Kit on the big screen. The curly black hair also helps and I would like to see Kit play someone not so innocent.

Young Minerva McGonnagal: Caitriona Balfe, best known for playing Claire in Outlander. I know this is extremely random, but I absolutely love Caitriona Balfe and think she would play an amazing young, feisty and smart McGonnagal.

Also, what about Jack Gleeson aka evil King Joffrey for a Malfoy, say a young version of Lucius?

Sirius and Lily?

(Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

MARNIFER: In thinking about dream casting the Marauders, so many actors came to mind! Lily Evans could be played by a number of seriously talented ladies from Saoirse Ronan to Amandla Stenberg. Ultimately, I zeroed in on recasting Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

For Remus, I immediately thought of Rahul Kohli of iZombie fame. And he’s English to boot. Kohli had only a handful of bit parts to his name before iZombie, but on that show he just shines. He’s funny, charming, and lanky. Though comedy is his wheelhouse, his emotional range is evident and I could see him really knocking it out of the park with a layered and powerful portrayal. Not to mention that comedians often give the most convincing “dark side” performances.

Dream casting younger Sirius was a much harder task. I had to go a bit older in this casting. I considered and rejected dozens of actors before landing on Diego Luna. No one else fit the bar to play such a highly complex and charismatic character. He also has that sort of rock star quality, the confident laid-back strut, that I thematically associate with Sirius. And once Sirius hits Azkaban, Diego Luna could really let loose his intensity as Sirius goes insane.

These two actors would play off each other in interesting and unexpected ways, and it would be a delight to see what emerges.

Next: The History of Hogwarts Professors in Pottermore Presents

Our Wizard’s Council meets every other week, unless there is an emergency session. Check out our other entries here.