Potterheads will never be able to fathom a world where Draco Malfoy was the Boy Who Lived and Harry Potter was scheming in Slytherin. Well, it’s not a fan fiction plot, but a real casting twist that almost happened. According to director Chris Columbus, Daniel Radcliffe had nearly lost his pivotal role to Tom Felton, due to Warner Bros’ decision.
Upon coming across Tom Felton, Warner Bros. surprisingly began considering him for the role of Harry. Given that it was difficult to convince Daniel Radcliffe’s parents to let him audition, and Felton did a great Harry Potter reading, the studio was inches close to casting him in the lead role. But thankfully, things took a magical turn after a final nod from J.K. Rowling.
Daniel Radcliffe Had Almost Lost His Lead Role to Tom Felton
In a surprising turn of events that could shatter any plot twist from the wizarding world, it turns out Harry Potter almost had a different face. According to Chris Columbus’ conversation with THR, the filmmaker who helmed the first two films in the franchise, reflected on the studios’ initial casting decision. As per Warner Bros’ vision, Tom Felton was nearly on the verge of becoming the Boy Who Lived.
Apparently, in the early days of casting for the Harry Potter franchise, Chris Columbus and Warner Bros were struggling with the monumental task of finding the perfect child actor to play Harry Potter. And in a casting move that could have changed the course of cinematic history, the studio had their eyes on Tom Felton. Since it was difficult to convince Daniel Radcliffe’s parents to let him audition, Felton seemed like an easy choice.
Tom was a great actor as well, so we thought, let’s just dye Tom’s hair, give him a scar, give him the glasses, and let’s see… He did a great Harry Potter reading.
As per Chris Columbus, Tom Felton stood out in auditions, after he was tested for the role of Harry Potter with the full Potter package. Warner Bros. immediately became adamant about casting him in the titular role. However, the only issue with him was the whole “dyed hair” situation. As Columbus put it, Felton’s dyed dark hair was looking quite bizarre and that’s what came in his way of becoming the ultimate Boy Who Lived.
The problem is you can really kind of tell when an 11- or 12-year-old kid’s hair is dyed. He was so good at Malfoy. I just couldn’t pass that up. I knew Tom had to play Malfoy.
Even though Tom Felton’s potential as Harry Potter was impressive, Chris Columbus knew he was destined for another role. Well, the director’s instincts were spot-on, and Felton’s portrayal of Draco Malfoy became legendary in its own right. Thankfully, this whole situation allowed Daniel Radcliffe to have a scope in the role of Harry Potter.
J.K. Rowling Saved the Harry Potter Franchise with a Pivotal Decision
Well, even though Daniel Radcliffe snatched the role out of Tom Felton’s grip, at the last minute, his casting was another impressive journey that was marked by J.K. Rowling’s vision. After Warner Bros. lost Felton as the potential Harry Potter, the studio put extra effort in convincing Radcliffe’s parents to let him audition. Eventually, as the young actor appeared for the initial reading, he simply stole the show.
Chris Columbus recalled the moment when J.K. Rowling saw Daniel Radcliffe and his performance, she was absolutely stunned and mesmerized by him. Immediately realizing that he was the one that she had always imagined Harry to be, Rowling intervened and saved the Harry Potter franchise with her unequivocal decision. Claiming that “he’s the perfect Harry Potter”, Rowling’s seal of approval helped Radcliffe secure a place in the wizarding world.
Having a collaborator who supported my vision gave me a lot of confidence and was able to help me limit my anxiety and tension about making this film. So, when the studio heard that she loved him, and I loved him and David loved him, they said yes. Two days later, we made the announcement in London. The rest is history. Columbus noted.
So it seems that J.K. Rowling almost played the role of the Sorting Hat when it came to the casting choices. Offering her unambiguous decision to cast Daniel Radcliffe, the author allowed the actor to embody Harry Potter with a charm, unlike none. Eventually, everything fell into its own place, as Radcliffe secured the role of Harry and Tom Felton became the quintessential Slytherin snob Draco Malfoy.
Harry Potter films are available on Max.
