Daniel Redcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint emerged as the iconic faces of the fantasy adventure franchise when they assumed the roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley on-screen. Even years later, it’s difficult to envision the wizarding saga without these beloved actors.
However, there came a time when the studio almost went ahead with recasting fan-favorite Watson, after she almost left the franchise while struggling with the overwhelming fame that accompanied her role in the film series.
Emma Watson Almost Left Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
During the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special, filmmaker David Yates, who directed the fifth installment, Order of the Phoenix, in the franchise, recalled how Emma Watson once contemplated leaving the series.
The actress shared that she felt scared and wanted to step away from the spotlight for a while. “I think I was scared,” she told her co-star Rupert Grint. Watson also reflected on how being a part of the franchise seemed like a lifelong commitment.
“It got to a tipping point where you were like, ‘This is kind of forever now,'” she said (via People) before adding, “The fame thing had finally hit home in a big way.” The actress has been very open about her struggles with the enduring nature of fame.
However, she continued portraying Hermione Granger and completed her venture into the wizarding saga with the 2011 film Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The Bling Ring star continued her Hollywood journey in the following years starring in multiple movies and a couple of TV shows.
But the 34-year-old actress has kept her distance from the silver screen since the 2019 film Little Women, as she admitted feeling “a bit caged” and unhappy while actively working as an actress. However, she remains open to returning to acting when the right opportunity arises.
Harry Potter Cast and Crew Reflected on Emma Watson’s Struggles
During the 20th Anniversary special, Emma Watson’s co-stars also reflected on her struggles and the pressure she felt while working as a young star. Daniel Radcliffe acknowledged that such discussions were not very common among them as they were all young and focused on their roles.
“We never talked about it in the film because we were all just kids,” he said. Tom Felton, who portrayed the role of Draco Malfoy in the franchise, also noted, “People definitely forget what she took on and how gracefully she did it.”
While commending Watson’s resilience, he highlighted how she faced challenges alone while their fellow actors like Radcliffe and Grint had each other for support. In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter, producer David Heyman discussed Watson’s commitment to her education while starring in the franchise.
“[She] was very keen in pursuit of schooling and was wrestling a little bit more than the others,” he shared while explaining that they had to renegotiate her contract each time. However, the producer emphasized that he listened to Watson’s needs and respected and praised her intelligence and dedication.
The Harry Potter franchise is available to stream on Max.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is available on Max.
