5 People You Never Knew Were Almost Cast in the Harry Potter Films

It turns out many actors and actresses in Harry Potter might have drank some Liquid Luck, because before they could put on their robes and enroll in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, they had to beat out these other A-list stars for the parts. To learn which five actors were almost cast in the classic film series and what they have to say about losing out on such coveted roles, keep scrolling! 

Saoirse Ronan was almost cast as Luna Lovegood

That's right. Saoirse Ronan, best known for her work in Little Women (2019), was almost cast as the aloof and, at times, bizarre Luna Lovegood—a role that eventually went to Evanna Lynch. 

 “I had gone up for Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter years ago, because it was the Irish character, so they got everyone Irish in—like half of Ireland to come and audition,” revealed Ronan. “ I knew I wasn’t going to get it because I was too young, but I got to read out a scene that was going to be in Harry Potter, and it was the coolest thing ever.”

Lovegood first appeared in the franchise's fifth film, Order of The Phoenix, and then became a central figure in the final three movies. 

Joseph Morgan was almost cast as Tom Marvolo Riddle 

Everyone’s favorite villain from The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, Joesph Morgan, was almost cast to play yet another villain: Tom Marvolo Riddle—who would eventually be revealed as a young Lord Voldemort—in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

He even revealed on X (formally known as Twitter) that his “first ever acting audition was for Harry Potter II, for a character called Tom Riddle.” 

The role eventually went to Christian Coulson. 

Henry Cavill was almost cast as Cedric Diggory 

Before he put on the cape and became Superman in Man of Steel (2013), Henry Cavill was almost cast as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. The role eventually went to Twilight's Robert Pattinson. 

Ironically, Cavill was almost cast in Pattinson’s role in Twilight, but he was deemed too old. Author Stephenie Meyer revealed, “The most disappointing thing for me is losing my perfect Edward. Henry Cavill is now twenty-four years old. Let us have a moment of quiet in which to mourn.” 

Sadly, Diggory died at the end of the fourth Harry Potter film, but even so we would have loved to see Cavill in the iconic Hogwarts robes. 

Jamie Campbell Bower was almost cast as Harry Potter 

Before he was living in the land of Demogorgans and telepathic teens in Stranger Things, Jamie Campbell Bower was actually on his way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but apparently messed it up by delivering a bad joke. 

“I had just heard this joke about a fairy, like, the reason why the fairy sits on top of the Christmas tree. And it’s a really, like, dirty joke because it’s about the Christmas tree up somebody’s bottom,” the actor revealed. “And I told this joke in the audition, and there was this sort of air of silence after I said it. And I was, like, ‘Well, f***ed that up.’” 

The role of Harry Potter would famously go to Tony Winner Daniel Radcliffe and no offense to Bower, but we are glad it did. 

Hugh Grant was almost cast as Gilderoy Lockhart

Seeing Hugh Grant in Harry Potter is something we can hardly picture, but it turns out it almost happened! The Willy Wonka actor was almost cast as the conceited Defence Against The Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart. 

The role would eventually go to Kenneth Branagh, whom Radcliffe himself even called “charming and really naughty with the younger actors in terms of making us laugh. There would be scenes where we'd be trying not to laugh, and Ken would see that and be, like, ‘I'm gonna get you to go.’ But it was very funny and sweet."

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