Bollywood: Alan Cumming Told Harry Potter Producers to F--k Off When Offered Role

Alan Cumming reveals he once told off the producers of the Harry Potter franchise after they offered him the role of Gilderoy Lockhart. Adapted from J.K. Rowling’s wildly popular book series, the first Harry Potter film debuted in 2001 and quickly transformed the pop culture landscape. For the next ten years, new installments of the franchise succeeded as surefire blockbuster hits. The Harry Potter movies catapulted the leads Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson into superstardom. At the time, a rotation of lauded British actors auditioned to play the quirky and powerful recurring characters in the series. Distinguished thespians, including Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Fiona Shaw, and Ralph Fiennes, graced the screen as foes and friends of the titular protagonist.

Over the years, Cumming made a name for himself as a prominent Scottish actor. After playing Hamlet in a critically-acclaimed theater production in 1993, he found success as a television actor in Britain. He also gained attention for his eccentric character roles in the early-aughts films Spy Kids and Josie and the Pussycats. Later, he won a Tony for his triumphant performance in a Broadway run of Cabaret and earned critical praise for his seasons-long arc on the popular show The Good Wife. Known for both his pathos and humor, Cumming was a high-profile actor in his own right during the height of Harry Potter mania.

While speaking to The Telegraph, Cumming shared his experiences auditioning for the character of Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In the interview, he described his disillusionment with the entire process:

“I didn’t turn it down…I told them to f--- off! They wanted me and Rupert Everett to do a screen test, and they said they couldn’t pay me more than a certain sum, they just didn’t have any more money in the budget. And I had the same agent as Rupert, who of course they were going to pay more. Blatantly lying, stupidly lying, as well. Like, if you’re going to lie, be clever about it. I said, tell them to f--- right off. And thought, well Rupert’s going to get the part. They made him screen test, and I remember he brought his own wig. And then they f---ing gave it to Kenneth Branagh, came out of the shadows.”

In the 2002 sequel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry eagerly prepares to return to Hogwarts for another year studying magic. While visiting his best friend Ron, he attends a book-signing led by the charismatic and renowned wizard Gilderoy Lockhart. The famed author reveals that has accepted a staff position at Hogwarts as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. However, by the end of the film, Harry discovers that Lockhart is a cruel fraud, stealing his tales from other wizards and then incapacitating them. As a result, Harry must defend himself from the teacher’s attacks and narrowly escapes a deadly fate.

Considering Cumming’s keen eye for comedy, it is certainly unfortunate that he was unable to tackle the peculiar character of Gilderoy Lockhart. While Branagh embraced the role with a tongue-in-cheek bravado, it would have been intriguing to witness how Cumming chose to approach the part. At the same time, the early stages of pre-production in Hollywood are notoriously unpredictable and fickle. In the end, both actors undoubtedly flourished in their respective projects. Moreover, the enduring legacy of the Harry Potter franchise opens the door for future opportunities that Cumming perhaps might choose to join.

More: Why JK Rowling Keeps Changing (& Hurting) Harry Potter Canon

Source: The Telegraph

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August 08, 2021 at 12:52AM

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