Warner Bros.has officially announced aHarry PotterTV series. Rather than excitement, though, audiences are greeting the news with confusion and ire. It’s easy to see why. After all, J.K. Rowling’s books were already adapted into eight movies, all of which earned adoration from fans and general audiences alike. The reason for that is simple: they got a ton of things right.
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Among the most important is the casting. TheHarry Potterfilms recruited a stellar cast of British stars and supplemented them with a host of promising newcomers. Pedigree aside, they fit their characters to a tee. It was as if Rowling’s creations had leaped off the page. Obviously, the TV show has some big shoes to fill in this regard. In most cases, the best people to fill these roles have already done so.
7Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore)
This might seem odd since the filmmakers have already replaced him. Richard Harris portrayed the Hogwarts headmaster for the first two films. Sadly, he passed away soon after, so Michael Gambon came in for the remainder. He wasn’t bad.The problem was that Harris was perfect.
He embodied the mentor figure in every way possible. He just emanated authority and wisdom. Viewers had no doubt that he knew exactly what he was doing at all times. This ties into Dumbledore’s most essential element: his infectious purity.
Harris was a consistently comforting presence. He achieved it effortlessly with a soft-spoken voice and a twinkle in his eye. Whenever he was there, one felt safe, uplifted, and emboldened. That is exactly how fans should feel around Dumbledore.
6Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall)
At first glance, McGonagall isa stereotypically stern teacher. She has a commanding attitude, and it leaves no room for nonsense. In short, she’s exactly how one imagines a strict instructor.
Underneath that hardened demeanor is a fondness for Harry and the other students.
Much of that isn’t directly written on the page or in the script. Instead, it comes from Maggie Smith. She peppers her persona with maternal concern, and she does so using almost imperceptible nuances. Such a layered performance comes courtesy of her classical training.
5Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)
The grumpy potions teacher is the series' greatest enigma, and Alan Rickman used that to keep viewers glued to the screen. His every line was measured and meticulous. Something ominous clearly lurks beneath the surface, but he was always in control, never betraying his true intentions. It’s consistently transfixing and makes sense for the character.
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Snape is riddled with secrets. He spends years in deep cover, deceiving people on both sides. Someone walking that tightrope would naturally develop a calculated demeanor. Few actors can pull that off as Rickman did.
4Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)
Coltrane may not have had the gigantic stature of the Hogwarts gamekeeper, but he matched the character in every other respect. With his booming voice and gruff dialect, he came off as a blue-collar worker of the Wizarding World. This made him easily likable as an everyman figure and an easygoing guide into an overwhelming setting.
With that casual nature came an endearing softness.Hagrid is a big teddy bear at heart, protective over Harry and friends as his own children and standing as a pillar of support in times of need. He’s like Dumbledore in that respect, and Coltrane was just as comfortable in conveying that warmth.
3Gary Oldman (Sirius Black)
Oldman made the most of his brief screen time by essentially playing two sides of a character. On one hand wasa hardened prisoner with years of psychological damage; on the other was a kindly godfather who offered encouragement and perspective. One wouldn’t think these personas gel.
However, Oldman has a well-earned reputation as a chameleon. As such, he easily portrayed both aspects of Sirius Black. What’s more is that he blended them organically while infusing them with understated pathos. This made him an intriguing rock in Harry’s life. If anything, audiences wished he was around more.
2Mark Williams & Julie Walters (Arthur & Molly Weasley)
Many remember the teachers ofHarry Potter, but a couple of unsung heroes are Arthur and Molly Weasley. The heads of the massive Weasley family are good souls who welcome Harry and other wayward friends into their humble home. They’re the ideal middle-class caregivers, which can be tough to pull off without becoming overly cheesy.
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Luckily, Mark Williams and Julie Walters play it beautifully. She excels as the fussy mother while he kills as the bemused dad. They have a chemistry and shorthand–both with each other and the child actors–which make the family dynamic incredibly convincing.One can’t overstate the importance of such an organic connection.
It’s especially impressive given that it’s not the main focus. These are minor figures in the grand scheme of things, but Williams and Walters act like they’ve known each other for years. As a result, this old married couple is just memorable and engaging as the kids.
1Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson & Rupert Grint (Harry, Hermione & Ron)
Harry, Hermione, and Ron are the foundation for the drama and the emotional center of the franchise. The filmmakers had to get them absolutely right. Luckily, that’s exactly what happened.Daniel Radcliffe,Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint demonstrated charisma well beyond their ages as preteens, and they only evolved from there. As they grew up, they gave more emotionally mature performances to match their maturing characters. Art imitates life in that sense.
However, it’s when they’re together that the magic truly begins. These three have an undeniable chemistry right from their first scene. They complement and offset each other in funny and meaningful ways, creating a dynamic that remains fresh and endearing to the end. Viewers never doubt that these guys are lifelong friends. Everything just clicks. Thus, it would be a miracle for such lightning to strike twice.
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