It is absolutely wild to think that Robin Williams got passed over for the part of Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter series because he wasn’t British! Now, while David Thewlis undoubtedly did justice to the character, one can’t help but wonder what kind of magic Williams could have brought to the role. Because one can never accept Williams to be a wrong choice for anything! The Harry Potter crew really missed out on something special with that one silly rule.
Robin Williams Was Denied the Role of Remus Lupin Because He Wasn’t British
Robin Williams, known for his extensive Hollywood career and a string of iconic roles, is often regarded as one of the few actors universally loved in the industry. Many would assume that Williams could land any role he desires.
However, that wasn’t the case when he wanted to enter the Harry Potter series. Surprisingly, he wasn’t even considered, not because he lacked the skill to portray the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but simply because he wasn’t British!
In an interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), Christopher Columbus, the director behind Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and several other films in the Harry Potter series, disclosed the reason they had to decline casting the star of Good Will Hunting. He revealed,
“That was the goal. No American actors in this film, I had a conversation with Robin Williams, who wanted to play Lupin,–It was very difficult for me to say, ‘It’s all British. There’s nothing I can do.’ “
In that instance, Christopher Columbus, an American himself, found it difficult to turn down the actor who was so keen on portraying Remus Lupin, a character who was introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third installment in the franchise.
Although it is a missed opportunity, people can’t help but wonder about all the “what if” scenarios. Robin Williams would undoubtedly have been a great addition to the already stellar cast the franchise boasted, given his talent and versatility, he could have easily mastered the British accent!
Why Did Harry Potter Have That “No American Actors” Rule in the First Place?
The production team’s decision to exclusively cast British actors stemmed from a rule set by J.K. Rowling herself. It might have been a creatively decisive move to preserve a sense of authenticity within the franchise, which is primarily based in England. While some might find this rule a bit silly, the vision behind it is also totally understandable.
Casting director Janet Hirshenson provided another angle of the same story involving Robin Williams to HuffPost saying,
“Robin [Williams] had called [Chris Columbus] because he really wanted to be in the movie, but it was a British-only edict, and once he said no to Robin, he wasn’t going to say yes to anybody else, that’s for sure,–It couldn’t be.”
Williams also spoke about his desire for the role and subsequent rejection to The Independent, stating,
“There were a couple of parts I would have wanted to play, but there was a ban on [using] American actors,–Maybe one day. Say if [Harry] goes to Yale and becomes president.”
Unfortunately, that never happened. However, despite J.K. Rowling’s insistence on an all-British cast for the Harry Potter films, Verne Troyer, an American, slipped through to play goblin Griphook in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
However, Warwick Davis dubbed Griphook’s lines, ensuring a British voice. Ultimately, Davis took over the role entirely when Griphook reappeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, preserving the strict no-American rule.
