‘Harry Potter’ casting rumors

Mark Strong as an actual gay Dumbledaddy would be sublime.

Why can’t Snape be Black? There are Black wizards and witches.

r2 I agree and I don't have an issue with it, but I still think the usual suspects will lose it at the news.

It's a smart way of compensating for not having a black Herrmione like in the play. (I just assume they'll go with a white or a Latino one for the show.)

r1 Mark Rylance is also in talks for the role and while he's the better actor, I'd have to go with Strong as well, just because a sexy Dumbledore would be a sight to behold. We already got a glimpse of that with Jude Law and I want more of it!

Well Snape is an ex-wizard Nazi, incel/simp with “greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin.” It’s just visually a miscast.

Why can't they just get Jude Law again? Age him a bit.

I don't think Jude Law would sign up to do a show for 7 to 10 years.

Who's Jude Law?

Why can't Snape be a differently-abled Indigenous woman, for that matter?

The lady who did Poor Things was just hired as the costume designer for the show. Can't wait to see her take on Dumbledore's robes. Michael Gambon's costumes in the later movies were such a downgrade from Richard Harris' ones. He's supposed to look colourful per the books, not like some North Korean headmaster.

Wizard Nazis are not racists. They are anti “mudbloods.” As for the description of the character’s appearance in the novels, who really cares? It is important that Snape be socially awkward and plausible as a Deatheater. What he looks like us not essential.

Billy Porter should play Minerva McGonagall, as a proud and sassy drag queen.

SHARON Horgan would be a bad Mcgonagall. I liked her in Todd Margaret and I like her in Bad Sisters but her range is very limited. Rachel Weisz would be insane to turn this down.

I’m so glad they are going to do this again. I love watching cute, apparently talented child actors grow up to be unattractive, bad adult actors.

And it will be fascinating to see new insights a fresh set of eyes can pull out of the subtlety and depth of the novels. What the films really suffered from is brevity. I can’t wait to see what quadrupling the time spend on each one brings us. Perhaps we will get lessons detailed enough for us to learn magic ourselves.

And backstories! We’ll have time to learn of the origins of Professor Sprout. See Hagrid’s childhood. Explore the complex childhood and adolescent relationships between Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. Finally learn the full history of Gringott’s Bank!

r14 Of all the backstories, I hope they explore Dumbledore's the most, for obvious homosexual reasons.

It will also be interesting to see what some REAL actors can do with the adult roles instead of the second-rate talent they employed in the films.

r14, it's scary how much you know about the universe. I was on a commercial shoot yesterday and the house that we filmed in had a very extensive HP basement, filled iwth floating candles, a potion station, a faux hearth with letters flying out,, and every single toy, figurine (including a huge wall of Funkos), Lego sets, books, wallpaper, hidden door in bookcase- it was mental. The owner (who must have been in her 60's was also a hardcore Taylor Swift fan. *shudders*

r16 Who was second-rate in the movies? I mostly recall veterans of the British film industry in adult roles.

[quote] R14], it's scary how much you know about the universe.

I just rewatched the last six films.

Dumbledore was born in 1881 and was 115 years old when he died in Half-Blood Prince.

How the fuck they gonna age Mark Strong by that much?

I was being sarcastic. They cast most of the greatest living British actors. It’s easier to list the ones that escaped—Helen Mirren, Ian McKellan (who was tied up with LOTR), Anthony Hopkins, Michael Caine, Colin Firth, Christopher Lee (who was offered Dumbledore).

Hugh Grant would have been PERFECT as Professor Lockheart. Out of all the actors who turned down roles, that one hits the hardest for me. Tilda Swinton, Naomi Watts, Michael Caine etc wouldn't have improved those characters or made them more memorable.

Sean Connery would have been an interesting Dumbledore, but Gambon was more seamless with Richard Harris.

Ruth Wilson as repressed lesbian Severessa Snape.

Rebel Wilson as... something. Anything.

In all seriousness, Morganna Robinson as either Petubia Dursley or Rita Skeeter.

Do we have a credible successor to Warwick Davis yet, or is he gonna reprise his role as Flitwick? I've always wanted to see more of that character.

Black people are scary!!!

That’s not true, r28. We just wish they would stick to playing Black roles. You know like the wonderful Sidney Poitier. It’s not fair if they start taking the White roles because they’d never let a White actor play a Black role. Not anymore.

Bambi was born to play Rita Skeeter.

Regardless of the desire some fans have to see subplots that were condensed/cut from the films, something this series is really going to struggle with is finding a new cast that can stand on its own. The film’s cast (adults in particular) was so highly regarded that following that is going to be a challenge.

The kids on TikTok aren't having it and love the movies.

OMG, can't someone have an original idea? The movies beautifully realised Rowling's vision--and supplied her with the much-needed editor that her publishers didn't after the third book.

I'm disappointed she hasn't left it at that.

Tens of thousands of kiddies have auditioned!

[quote]There was an audible gasp during this month’s Max Showcase in London when Francesca Gardiner, the new Harry Potter showrunner, let slip that a whopping 32,000 people had auditioned for what might well be the biggest three acting gigs of the decade.

[quote]The kids on TikTok aren't having it and love the movies.

The kids on TikTok weren't having Trump either. Social media isn't real life, I can't believe some of you still haven't figured that out after last month.

Also, there's a huge need for HP content in foreign markets, it's why The Rings of Power is still going on despite being just mid. So this show will do more than fine, ratings-wise.

Well, this was inevitable – trannies kicking up a stink. Surprised it's taken them this long.

[quote]Warner Bros. Discovery and the BBC have been accused of double standards on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) after both organizations have stood by J.K. Rowling amid a hardening in her transgender rights rhetoric.

[quote]The support for Rowling’s work has alarmed members of the transgender community working in the media, who have noted how the writer’s language on trans issues has evolved from measured disagreement to a coarser tone over the past four years. In interviews with Deadline, these people argued that WBD and the BBC’s platforming of Rowling’s work sits uncomfortably with internal policies around fairness and inclusivity for transgender employees.

[quote]Rowling declined to comment, but tweeted on Thursday that her only regret is not speaking out sooner.

Guess they haven't gotten the memo about the new post-election cultural landscape just yet. No one cares anymore.

I think it's perfectly appropriate for Snape to be played by a Black actor. Not so much Mama Rose in Gypsy.

People want even more of this derivative garbage?

Yes, obviously, or else they wouldn't be making it. People having different tastes shouldn't be a shocking notion to someone your age.

[quote]I can’t wait to see what quadrupling the time spend on each one brings us. Perhaps we will get lessons detailed enough for us to learn magic ourselves.

[quote]We’ll have time to learn of the origins of Professor Sprout. See Hagrid’s childhood. Explore the complex childhood and adolescent relationships between Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. Finally learn the full history of Gringott’s Bank!

I cannot stop laughing, R14. This is some funny, funny stuff. You, sir, are an absolute treasure.

[Quote] People having different tastes shouldn't be a shocking notion to someone your age.

Stories cobbled together from better and more original fantasy are not something to be celebrated, but we have a whole generation whose brains have been colonized by just such stories.

I am House Slytherin!

Pottermore or Potter less?

R36 I’m not surprised Rowling’s stance has hardened, given the level of abuse that’s been thrown her way. She has a very sharp tongue and sense of humour - throw a grenade at her and she’ll throw ten back at you.