Why do many A listers in Harry Potter films?

[Charley1988]

Just watching it now with Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth Branagh, I know Maggie Smith is in them - another actor who's been in loads of other things. Think his name's David Warner , Alan Rickman's just appeared....I could go on....

Why not? It was a super popular book, a great franchise of films (mostly), it's only normal to want to attract people to cinemas with big names and for actors to want to star in successful films.

In case you didn't know OP, JK Rowling decided British and Irish actors only for the film. Quite a few huge USA names requested a part (Robin Williams for one), but were politely declined.

I'm still annoyed they cut Rik Mayall out as Peeves the Poltergeist, but that's just me

Most of them will have children or grandchildren who love Harry Potter... I'm sure there are at least a few anyway who have openly stated that they did it because their families were really keen!

Presumably because they were guaranteed box office smash hits, hugely popular and would benefit both their bank balances and their profile. It's a bit of a no-brainer really... "Do you want to be in one of the most high profile and lucrative movie franches ever?"... "Errr, let me think". See also Marvel Cinematic Universe, Lord of the Rings, James Bond etc.

I remember watching a show (cant remember which but I think it was a panel quiz sho) with JK Rowling and Ray winstone who asked her for a part and she said she thought he would be perfect and had one in mind. Obviously it never worked out but I always wonder who she thought he could play.

Thanks I didn't realise that it was only British/Irish actors - seems like a roll call of best U.K. Actors!

@travellingspoon it must have been mundungus Fletcher surely!

I understand most British actors do theatre training which is why they are considered the best in the world, adaptable and so on

It’s a great British film and made this country millions

Well given that the train leaves a London station on platform 9 3/4s its hardly supprising the actors are all from the UK. Its a film set based on the books which are UK based. Diagon alley is supposed to be in London.

Imagine, actors in a film 😱

Amanduh it's the concentration of very high profile actors that surprised me

Alan Rickman just appeared?! Did you seriously only just find out that he played Professor Snape?! Do you live on Mars?

Fiona shaw who plays aunt pertunia is very open about the fact that she did it because it was her pension.

Well the book series was huge even before the films were made, kids all over the world were reading them and they were hugely anticipated so it makes sense that top British actors wanted to be involved. They also had proper Hollywood budgets (and salaries) so that was probably very attractive too!

The Harry Potter films have been credited with turning British film around financially, they brought a lot of money and investment back into the industry.

Manon
I was watching it at the time and commenting on the actors as they they were actually appearing on screen

Actors love to do stuff that their kids / grandkids will admire.

Plus actors love to do highly paid roles in a long running famous franchise that will still be on tv in 20 yrs

Maggie Smith said it was her pension too - although she seemed to enjoy it

Just watching it now with Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth Branagh

What amazing company you keep!

Alan Rickman is just amazing in HP. I come over all unnecessary. Plus he plays my favourite character. 🖤

I also think Maggie Smith is amazing too. ❤

Maggie Smith playing Professor McGonagle (sp) is my favourite character in Harry Potter, especially in the last film. She is utterly fabulous in it!

No diagon alley was based on a street in Edinburgh.

What's even more amazing is that 99% of the cast stay through out the series.

it's the concentration of very high profile actors that surprised me

It's a very successful film franchise. Of course most actors would be happy to be a part of it.

I think Maggie Smith was being treated for breast cancer during filming. She's a trooper.

And yes, it was definitely referred to as 'the pension plan' by several luminaries!