Did you ever wonder what it would be like if Draco Malfoy was the famous wizard and Harry Potter his rival? Funny to think about, isn’t it? It almost became a reality!
Behind the Casting of Harry Potter
Interesting things were happening when the Harry Potter movie cast was being decided. Director Chris Columbus spilled some secrets about their initial decisions. Can you believe Daniel Radcliffe was almost replaced by Tom Felton? Yes, you read it correctly! It almost was Felton as Harry, and not Radcliffe, thanks to Warner Bros’ choice.
A Special Turn of Events
Remember Draco Malfoy, the sneaky Slytherin? Well, it’s mind-boggling to imagine him as the hero! But it almost happened. The film studios saw great potential in Felton and saw him as a fit for the role. To everyone’s surprise, his reading for Harry Potter was pretty fantastic, putting him high up on the list for the role. But, things took a magical turn when J.K. Rowling gave her final approval to Radcliffe for the role.
Tom Felton Was Almost Harry Potter
In an interview, Columbus revealed some interesting secrets about the casting. During the early days, picking the right kid to play Harry was tough for both Columbus and Warner Bros. Because of Radcliffe’s initial reluctance to audition, Felton became an even more appealing option.
Felton as the Whole Harry Package
Felton amazed everyone during the auditions. Standing in the complete Harry get-up, dyed hair, the lightning scar and glasses, he looked the part. Quite impressive, wouldn’t you say? This excitement led Warner Bros to push for Felton as Harry. One quirky snag? Felton’s hair dyed black looked a little strange.
Felton as the Perfect Malfoy
Despite Felton’s convincing audition to play Harry, Columbus saw something different in him. Felton ended up playing the iconic role of Draco Malfoy. And we all agree, his performance was nothing short of legendary. This change opened up the opportunity for Radcliffe to play our beloved Harry.
Role of J.K. Rowling in the Casting
Warner Bros worked hard to convince Radcliffe’s parents to allow him to audition. Radcliffe’s reading was a knockout. J.K. Rowling, the brain behind the magic was present and she was floored by his performance. Seeing his acting, she decided Radcliffe was a perfect match for the character she had created in her mind.
Rowling’s backing gave a massive boost of confidence to the director and his team. Everyone fell in love with Radcliffe’s portrayal of Harry. Days passed and soon it was announced that Radcliffe would be Harry, the boy who lived.
Sacred Approval
In this casting process, Rowling played the role of a decision maker much like the Sorting Hat. Her approval for Radcliffe to play Harry reassured everyone he was the best choice. And boy, did he bring a unique spark to Harry Potter’s character! As a result, we got the best Harry in Radcliffe and an equally impressive Malfoy in Felton.
In conclusion
So there you have it! That’s the magical journey behind the casting of Harry Potter. Isn’t it wild to imagine how different things could have been if Felton was Harry? But, as the saying goes, “all’s well that ends well”. In the end, we got Radcliffe as the perfect Harry, and Felton as the ideal Draco, and both actors nailed their roles!
For more details, visit Project Casting Blog on https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/news/the-casting-secret-of-potter-when-tom-felton-nearly-became-harry-potter/