Improvisation can often elevate a movie if done right, with one prominent example being Bad Boys 2, in which Will Smith scared actor Dennis Greene for real while flopping a gun in the iconic scene. Another such incident occurred in the acclaimed Harry Potter franchise, thanks to Ralph Fiennes’ bone-chilling performance, which has earned Voldermort its place among the best villains in fiction.
And while it didn’t involve a gun, Fiennes’ improvised hug to Tom Felton scared him for real, who played the role of Draco Malfoy, as the actor recounted that the part made his blood run cold.
Tom Felton Recalled the Unscripted Scene With Ralph Fiennes
While fans remained in constant fright whenever Voldemort was onscreen, even Tom Felton wasn’t immune to it. In his memoir Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, he recalled a scene of Ralph Fiennes awkwardly hugging him, which he revealed wasn’t originally in the script. He further expressed that the actor’s weighty presence set him apart from everyone else involved and the improvisation from Fiennes put chills down his spine. Felton wrote,
“Uncertain, I shimmied towards him, my arms down by my side. He put his own arms around me and gave me perhaps the most uninviting hug ever captured on film. Even on set it chilled me. A hug from Voldemort was scary for Draco, and it was equally awkward for Tom. It gave me goosebumps then, and the memory gives me goosebumps now.”
The Arrowverse star further said he had no idea if the footage was going to be used in the final cut, as they had around 50 takes of the scene, which didn’t involve The Menu Star’s bone-chilling hug Fortunately it did end up making the final cut and reflecting on its London premiere, Felton recalled the audience going completely silent, stating there was something very twisted about the moment.
Ralph Fiennes Would Reprise the Iconic Role in a Heartbeat
Although it has been over a decade since Voldemort’s story wrapped up, The Grand Budapest Hotel Star hasn’t shut the possibility of reprising the iconic gig in the future. On asked whether he would be inclined to play The Dark Lord again, he told Variety:
“Sure, of course. No question about it.”
Also read: Ralph Fiennes Nearly Rejected $9.5B Franchise That Made Him a Legend for the Stupidest Reason
With the Harry Potter IP inching towards a reboot, it’ll be interesting to see if Ralph Fiennes would make a return or not, as witnessing him return as Voldemort in a new light would be enticing.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2 are available to stream on Max.
