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HARRY NOTTER

The A-list actors who turned down roles in Harry Potter – from Tilda Swinton to Sean Connery

Hollywood stars could have made Hogwarts a very different place

A WHOLE host of A-list actors turned down roles in the hit Harry Potter movie franchise.

The films starred Daniel Radcliffe as the titular character, while Ralph Fiennes played his nemesis Lord Voldermort, and Emma Watson and Rupert Grint played his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

A whole host of A-list stars turned down roles in Harry Potter
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A whole host of A-list stars turned down roles in Harry PotterCredit: Alamy
The film franchise made the child actors playing the lead roles super famous
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The film franchise made the child actors playing the lead roles super famousCredit: Alamy

The first film, The Philosopher's Stone, was released in 2001 while the last in the franchise, Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiered in 2011.

The films made household names of the stars, but did you know that many Hollywood A Listers were asked to tread the hallowed halls of Hogwarts - but turned down the roles?

The Sun Online looks at some of the stars who could have been cast as the characters we all know and love.

Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts didn't even get chance to look at the script after her agent turned down the role
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Naomi Watts didn't even get chance to look at the script after her agent turned down the roleCredit: Getty

Naomi was being tipped for the role of Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother, but her agent turned down the role.

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The late Helen McCrory, who also starred in Paddington, was chosen instead.

Christopher Lee

Sir Christopher Lee could have been Dumbledore
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Sir Christopher Lee could have been DumbledoreCredit: PA:Press Association

Christopher Lee was considered for the iconic part of Dumbledore in 2002, when Richard Harris died after filming the second Harry Potter movie.

However, he turned down the role due because he thought it was in poor taste.

The actor appeared in films such as Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and in George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels.

Sir Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen didn't want to play another wizard after Lord of the Rings
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Sir Ian McKellen didn't want to play another wizard after Lord of the Rings

Two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen was also approached to be the iconic Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore but he turned down the offer.

Sir Ian wanted to remain forever known as the wizard Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

David Thewlis star as Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton didn't agree with glorifying the boarding school experience
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Tilda Swinton didn't agree with glorifying the boarding school experienceCredit: The Mega Agency

Dr Strange actress Tilda was offered the role of Professor Sybil Trelawney.

However, the star didn't fancy taking up the spellbook as Divination professor.

She snubbed Harry Potter bosses as she didn't approve of glorifying the boarding school experience.

She said she: "[disliked] films like Harry Potter which tend to romanticize such places.

"I think they are a very cruel setting in which to grow up and I don’t feel children benefit from that type of education.”

Sean Connery

Bond legend Sean Connery almost played Albus Dumbledore
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Bond legend Sean Connery almost played Albus DumbledoreCredit: PA

Imagine a world where James Bond meets Harry Potter?

Well Sean Connery very nearly came close to replacing Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in The Sorcerers Stone, had the director had his way.

However, the actor refused the part as he had no interest in the subject.

Michael Cera

Michael Cera signed for The Lego Movie instead of Harry Potter
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Michael Cera signed for The Lego Movie instead of Harry PotterCredit: Getty

The role of Jacob in Fantastic Beasts trilogy - the prequel to Harry Potter - was very nearly taken on by Micheal Cera.

However, filming clashed with The Lego Movie and so the part went to Dan Fogler.


Hugh Grant

How different life might have been at Hogwarts if Hugh Grant had been one of the characters.
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How different life might have been at Hogwarts if Hugh Grant had been one of the characters.Credit: Alamy

Paddington villain Hugh Grant was nearly cast as the egocentric Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.

Prior to Paddington the foppish actor is known for playing romantic leads in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually.

However, he reportedly fancied the idea of playing the self absorbed Defense Against the Dark Arts master - except a clash of schedules meant that he could not take up the role and Sir Kenneth Branagh got it instead.

Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike turned down a role in a Harry Potter film because she disagreed with some of the settings.
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Rosamund Pike turned down a role in a Harry Potter film because she disagreed with some of the settings.Credit: Getty

Another Bond character was also very nearly cast for a part in Harry Potter.

Rosamund Pike was offered the role of Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but she thought it was too much of a commitment when she found out she would have to sign on for two more films, with only a small amount of screen time.

Instead, the Gone Girl star declined the part to play Jane Bennet in the Pride and Prejudice film instead.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet was offered a role but her agent refused
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Kate Winslet was offered a role but her agent refusedCredit: Getty

Kate Winslet was the leading actress in Titanic which won 11 Academy Awards, but she very nearly added another hit role to her impressive acting career.

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Kate's agent turned down the role of Helena Ravenclaw because she was "not interested in following suit of every other actor in Britain by being a part of Harry Potter."

The Harry Potter franchise is available to stream on Netflix.

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