Entertainment
Thank God This Movie Idea Featuring the Stars of Harry Potter Never Happened
The Harry Potter films did not just bring one of the most famous book series ever created to life with groundbreaking special and practical effects. It introduced the world to three actors who would all quickly become beloved household names: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The embodiment of their corresponding characters, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, along with their real-world personalities, would set them in good standing for what came after the Harry Potter series ended with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. All three went on to find success, with Radcliffe being the most experimental and arguably the most successful of the trio, which led to his recent interview on the YouTube show Hot Ones.
During this interview, however, Radcliffe revealed that their lives could have been very different, with an offer given to the trio that would have seen them reunite on screen. While the intentions of this idea are clear and would have capitalized on the peak of their stardom, it is absolutely for the best that they declined to take part, as it would have involved an unnecessary and bizarre remake of a classic that surely would have floundered. Beyond the decision itself not to take part, it also reflects the maturity all three actors have shown in their careers from a young age.
The Harry Potter Trio Received an Offer to Remake ‘The Wizard of Oz’
As always, Hot Ones had a plethora of insightful questions beyond the obvious ones most fans would ask. One of them in particular was “What stands out as the most bizarre or unique pitches you’ve said yes to?” Rather than focus on one that he accepted, Radcliffe arguably gave a far better example of a truly “bizarre” offer that he described as “one of the worst ideas” he’s ever heard. Radcliffe explained that “During Potter someone… wanted to cast all three of us, me, Emma, and Rupert, in a remake of The Wizard of Oz,” with Emma Watson as Dorothy and Radcliffe as the Cowardly Lion, though Radcliffe couldn’t remember what Grint was offered, though it seems likely it would have been one of the Scarecrow or the Tin Man.
From the outset, this idea will raise red flags for fans. While Watson would have been rather age-appropriate for the young Dorothy, who learns the true value of home, Grint and Radcliffe feel like they would have been far too young for Dorothy’s friends, who are supposed to support her journey and help her grow. An even more bizarre addition, Radcliffe revealed, was that his Lion “knew karate,” so he would have been a “karate-kicking Cowardly Lion.” Considering the main point of the Cowardly Lion is that he is afraid of conflict, having him also be handy in a fight would have seriously contradicted the character’s nature, and it is clear why Radcliffe and his castmates declined.
The ‘Harry Potter’ Trio’s Decision Shows Their Maturity
Hollywood is full of wild ideas that feel like a cash grab, and this certainly feels like one of them. Even Radcliffe seemed to understand this, saying in the interview that even though he was 14 or 15 at the time, “I don’t know a lot about the world, but this is a bad idea.” When considering what this says about the actors themselves, it shows how Watson, Radcliffe, and Grint were surrounded by great mentors, and how it has paid off in their careers. Of course, the trio’s parents and their own natures will have played important roles, but there can be no doubt that figures such as Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Michael Gambon were also key in developing this more auteur, Thespian approach that can see through bad, unoriginal pitches such as this. Additionally, it helps reflect why the trio has had such well-adjusted lives, with few controversies compared to those of other child stars throughout the years, who had high peaks and fell off afterward.
Overall, we should all be thankful that Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint declined this awful Wizard of Oz remake offer. Clearly, its logic for working was going to be the star power it would bring, rather than the logistics of the story itself. Beyond the idea itself, what matters far more is how it set up Radcliffe’s approach to his future career, taking roles based on how he can showcase his skills rather than raise his stardom. With The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins already being released earlier this week, it’s clear that this approach has garnered Radcliffe great success, and long may it continue.
The Harry Potter series is available to watch on HBO Max and Peacock in the U.S.
- Release Date
-
July 12, 2011
- Runtime
-
130 minutes
- Writers
-
Steve Kloves, J.K. Rowling
- Producers
-
David Barron, David Heyman, J.K. Rowling