In 2021 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film will already be 20, and therefore the casting of the lead actors took place approximately the same time. Let’s find out which now known actors and actresses could take the place of the ones without whom the franchise is hard to imagine.
We will look at the actors not only from the first film, but from all eight films of the main story (i.e. without Fantastic Beasts). Get ready for surprises!
1. Harry Potter — Liam Aiken
The actor is best known for his roles in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) and Stepmom (1998).
Played by: Daniel Radcliffe.
2. Hermione Granger — Anna Popplewell
The actress is best known for the roles in The Chronicles of Narnia movies (2005-2010).
Played by: Emma Watson.
3. Ron Weasley — Thomas Sangster
The actor is known for his roles in Love Actually (2003), Game of Thrones (2011-2019) and The Queen’s Gambit series (2020).
Played by: Rupert Grint.
4. Severus Snape — Tim Roth
The actor is best known for his work in Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994) and Lie to Me series (2009-2011).
Played by: Alan Rickman.
5. Rubeus Hagrid — Robin Williams
The actor is known for his roles in Jumanji (1995), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Dead Poets Society (1989).
Played by: Robbie Coltrane.
6. Albus Dumbledore — Ian McKellen
The actor is best known for the roles in film series of The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003), The Hobbit (2012-2014) and X-Men (2000-2014).
Played by: Michael Gambon (he was cast after the death of the first Dumbledore, Richard Harris).
7. Quirinus Quirrell — David Thewlis
Futher, the actor portrayed the more important character in the franchise — Remus Lupin. That role has been, by far, the most prominent work of David Thewlis.
Quirrell was played by: Ian Hart.
8. Gilderoy Lockhart — Hugh Grant
The actor is known for his roles in Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) and Love Actually (2003).
Played by: Kenneth Branagh.
9. Rita Skeeter — Rosamund Pike
Rosamund Pike in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014).
The actress is best known for the roles in Gone Girl (2014) and Die Another Day (2002).
Played by: Miranda Richardson.
10. Miranda Richardson — Tilda Swinton
The actress is known for her roles in Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), Doctor Strange (2016) and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005).
Played by: Emma Thompson.
11. Luna Lovegood — Saoirse Ronan
The actress is best known for her roles in The Lovely Bones (2008), Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019).
Played by: Evanna Lynch.
12. Cedric Diggory — Henry Cavill
The actor is known for his role of Superman in DC Universe (2013-…) and Gerald in The Witcher series (2019-…).
Played by: Robert Pattinson.
13. Narcissa Malfoy — Naomi Watts
The actress is best known for the roles in King Kong (2005), Mulholland Drive (2001) and The Ring (2002).
Played by: Helen McCrory.
14. The Grey Lady — Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet in A Little Chaos (2014).
The actress is best known for the roles in Titanic (1997) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2003).
Played by: Kelly Macdonald.
Bonus: Lily Potter — Joanne Rowling
Played by: Geraldine Somerville.
Which of the actors listed above, in your opinion, could play the role better than the confirmed ones?
