10 Facts You Didn’t Know About Harry Potter
Today (May 2) is Harry Potter Day! For all you Hogwarts lovers and wizards galore, here are some facts about the movie you might not have known.
1. Haley Joel Osment almost played Harry Potter.
Can you imagine a world where the beloved David Radcliffe was NOT Harry Potter? Unimaginable but it’s true. Originally, the role was offered to child star Haley Joel Osment because Stephen Spielberg wanted him for the role (Spielberg was originally supposed to direct the films as well).Eventually, Spielberg was sacked as director and Osment was as well.
2. The actress who played Moaning Myrtle was much older in real life.
Shirley Henderson who plays Myrtle in the Chamber of Secrets was actually 36 years old playing a 14-year old bathroom-haunting ghost.
3. JK Rowling wrote an early sketch of the final movie early on.
Creator, JK Rowling recalls the idea that she had the first chapter of Deathly Hallows written and locked away in a safe. Although in her words it turned out to be ‘rubbish’, there is still an element of truth to it. Within the first year of writing the Harry Potter stories, Rowling said she already had an idea as to how the story would end.
4. Rowling invented the game of ‘Quidditch’ after a fight with her boyfriend.
One night, Rowling and her then boyfriend had a row; prompting her to storm out of her home and head to the pub to cool off. While there, she started brainstorming and out of anger, created the game we all know and love, Quidditch.
5. There was a total of 7 owls that played Hedwig.
Although only 3 appeared on set in the first film, a total of seven owls were cast to play the role of beloved Hedwig. Of course, they all had names in real life. They were Gizmo, Kasper, Oops, Swoops, Oh Oh, Elmo, and Bandit.
6. Rupert Grint had a very unusual audition
Most actors audition for a role by reading lines and getting into character. But, not Rupert Grint. When auditioning for the role of Ron Weasley, Rupert sent in a tape to casting directors rapping his reasons as to why he deserved to play the part.
7. The epic feasts were 100% real
You heard it here! Every scene in Harry Potter where the Hogwarts students were seen feasting was 100% real food. YUM!
8. The Harry Potter books are available in multiple languages.
From Albanian to Hebrew, anyone, anywhere in the world can read Harry Potter in their native language. The books have sold over 500 million copies worldwide and is available in 80 different languages.
9. Arthur Weasley was supposed to die.
Although Rowling planned out much of her characters fates in the end, there was one ending she decided to scratch and that was the death of beloved Weasley patriarch, Arthur. He was supposed to meet his grim fate in “The Order of the Phoenix’ but Rowling changed her mind last minute.
10. Tom Felton did not want to be Draco Malfoy.
Originally when auditioning for the films, Felton tried out for the role of Harry and Ron. Eventually, he was cast as everyone’s favorite villain, Draco Malfoy.
