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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Harry Potter open casting call

312 replies

afrikat · 09/09/2024 21:12

Anyone's kids going for it?? My daughter would have loved to but is 2 months too young 😢

https://app.castittalent.com/HPCasting?utm_source=wwd_web&utm_medium=homepage_tile&utm_campaign=hbo&utm_content=hpseries-castingannounce

Cast It Talent

https://app.castittalent.com/HPCasting

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 30/11/2024 18:22

verysmellyjelly · 28/11/2024 17:32

@MasterBeth That's an intentionally bad faith misreading of what I actually said.

Here's what you said:

When adapting a beloved and widely known existing universe, just use the visual appearance that the (many, many, many) fans already know and love. By which I mean the books, of course, not earlier actors from different versions.

How is that anything other than saying only white actors should play these beloved characters?

afrikat · 30/11/2024 19:37

Calliopespa · 28/11/2024 20:49

Oh I didn’t realise they had to be filmed at home even if with an agency. I just saw the advertisement and thought how refreshing they were “ casting” about more widely to find children who weren’t represented by agencies. I have this Charlie Bucket and the golden Wonka Bar ticket image in my mind - some little fellow doing it under his own steam in granny’s bathroom with her phone and getting the role! But that’s the romantic in me! It just caught my imagination.

I do think they will be reviewing every submission especially for the 'big 3'. Rupert Grint was found this way. I suspect for the rest of the cast they will be going out to agencies (which is what prompted me to sign my daughter up - she has her eye on Ginny!) but there will probably be more open casting too. Luna was found via open casting last time

OP posts:
verysmellyjelly · 05/12/2024 13:50

@MasterBeth Why are you assuming the canonical POC characters are not beloved, for a start. If you were a long term, passionate HP fan you would know otherwise. Secondly, it's about fidelity to the canon across the board, and you are the one deciding that the key focus is wHiTeNeSs, when it's not at all. There were infinite screw ups with casting the original films when it comes to this exact issue too, despite all three of the trio being played by white actors: none of them looked faithful to the source. Exactly capturing my point. A casting can be white and yet totally wrong.

There are other subtle issues that come into play when they "race bend" a character, and the problem with these is not at all related to whiteness but to the harm that textual accuracy would cause to a child actor. For example, I think that out of the trio, Hermione would be by far the best character to cast with a black actress - her appearance is less of a focus in the books (colour wise) and "black Hermione" is historically loved by the fandom. It may not be accurate (it's not) but there is strong and much loved precedent in the fandom and in the quasi canon of Cursed Child. However, then you run into the issues of (1) her hair, and how to deal with it accurately when it's supposed to be very frizzy, messy, wild etc. That could obviously be hurtful for a black child actor. And also the fact that Hermione is canonically one of the less "attractive" girls in the year, has big teeth for the first years at Hogwarts, etc. They would essentially need to cast a "less pretty" child who would potentially even need small prostheses. Minor "uglification" of a black actor is clearly more fraught and controversial than a white actor, especially when a young actress playing black Hermione would likely receive harassment anyway, from people who saw the casting as "woke" and weren't aware of the full HP background (the concept of "black Hermione" originated with fans, before Cursed Child).

I could go on, believe me. I have a lot more to say on this. But it's so tedious talking to people like you who just lazily assume the worst all the time and never consider there might be more nuance in a situation.

afrikat · 05/12/2024 16:34

Rumours swirling today that Paapa Essiedu is being cast as Snape. He's amazing and think that would be a great choice

www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/12/05/the-first-major-harry-potter-hbo-show-casting-decision-is-about-to-be-made/

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 05/12/2024 22:27

verysmellyjelly · 05/12/2024 13:50

@MasterBeth Why are you assuming the canonical POC characters are not beloved, for a start. If you were a long term, passionate HP fan you would know otherwise. Secondly, it's about fidelity to the canon across the board, and you are the one deciding that the key focus is wHiTeNeSs, when it's not at all. There were infinite screw ups with casting the original films when it comes to this exact issue too, despite all three of the trio being played by white actors: none of them looked faithful to the source. Exactly capturing my point. A casting can be white and yet totally wrong.

There are other subtle issues that come into play when they "race bend" a character, and the problem with these is not at all related to whiteness but to the harm that textual accuracy would cause to a child actor. For example, I think that out of the trio, Hermione would be by far the best character to cast with a black actress - her appearance is less of a focus in the books (colour wise) and "black Hermione" is historically loved by the fandom. It may not be accurate (it's not) but there is strong and much loved precedent in the fandom and in the quasi canon of Cursed Child. However, then you run into the issues of (1) her hair, and how to deal with it accurately when it's supposed to be very frizzy, messy, wild etc. That could obviously be hurtful for a black child actor. And also the fact that Hermione is canonically one of the less "attractive" girls in the year, has big teeth for the first years at Hogwarts, etc. They would essentially need to cast a "less pretty" child who would potentially even need small prostheses. Minor "uglification" of a black actor is clearly more fraught and controversial than a white actor, especially when a young actress playing black Hermione would likely receive harassment anyway, from people who saw the casting as "woke" and weren't aware of the full HP background (the concept of "black Hermione" originated with fans, before Cursed Child).

I could go on, believe me. I have a lot more to say on this. But it's so tedious talking to people like you who just lazily assume the worst all the time and never consider there might be more nuance in a situation.

It's an adaptation. Textural accuracy should not and will not be the prime motivation. Making the best TV show will be. They're not making it primarily for long-term passionate Harry Potter fans, but for a general late 2020s international TV audience. That is likely to mean a more diverse main cast than the movies or the books. Good.

BeMerryOliveReader · 06/12/2024 12:11

Sounds like choices (a pool) have been made per Hollywood reporter- producers saying workshop happening in January for trio. Bit unclear though as it says "there are some crackers" referring to brilliant self tapes..but then it also says "tapes are being reviewed, up to 1000 a day" so not sure if still ongoing 🤷 I'm guessing not if workshop is in Jan..mind you they know people would attend even if they called on the day at the last minute 🤣

BeMerryOliveReader · 06/12/2024 12:11

Approx 32k applied..I thought it'd be more!

afrikat · 06/12/2024 12:27

BeMerryOliveReader · 06/12/2024 12:11

Approx 32k applied..I thought it'd be more!

Me too!

OP posts:
verysmellyjelly · 06/12/2024 13:46

@MasterBeth Lazy response that fails to engage with my points.

KarmenPQZ · 06/12/2024 21:28

BeMerryOliveReader · 06/12/2024 12:11

Approx 32k applied..I thought it'd be more!

Where is everyone getting the intel from?

oh Hollywood reporter I guess 🤦‍♀️

MasterBeth · 07/12/2024 12:24

verysmellyjelly · 06/12/2024 13:46

@MasterBeth Lazy response that fails to engage with my points.

Because your points are silly reasons to try and justify your flawed central argument, that fidelity to the book text is so very important.

But it isn't. The producers aren't making a show for long term passionate fans, they're making a show for everyone. In 2025.

As a result, it doesn't really matter if the books say Hermione has messy hair and in the TV show she doesn't. If it needs to, the show will find a way to communicate the character trait that the book's messy hair signifies. It will adapt. It's an adaptation.

Your concern over the actor's mental health is admirable, but it's also an excuse for not casting black actors in anything "controversial", ever.

BeMerryOliveReader · 30/12/2024 19:02

Heard any more? Anyone?

KarmenPQZ · 26/02/2025 13:46

Ohhhh see the first announcement. John litgrow as Dumbledore. Slightly underwhelming I reckon.

TickingAlongNicely · 26/02/2025 14:03

Not 100% British thistime then?

I bet there are some very excited children at this stage of the casting progress. I wonder if they are looming at casting the other major children from these applicants as well

schoolmum11 · 26/02/2025 18:39

Did anyone hear back from this?!

AtomicBlondeRose · 26/02/2025 19:53

No, so I suppose I’ll cancel that yacht I had on order. Was sure DD had it in the bag 😂😂

afrikat · 26/02/2025 19:56

I reckon they must be pretty much there with the Big 3 by now...

Still holding out hope for Ginny for my daughter 🤣

OP posts:
KarmenPQZ · 27/02/2025 21:21

Haha @afrikat we we’re hoping for Ginny too but I reckon even the casting if those must have got at least one call back by now

afrikat · 27/02/2025 22:35

KarmenPQZ · 27/02/2025 21:21

Haha @afrikat we we’re hoping for Ginny too but I reckon even the casting if those must have got at least one call back by now

Yeah will be interesting to see how the rest of the casting goes. My daughter is with an agency and I can usually see what she's being submitted for - i would have thought she would meet the Ginny requirements. Although not if they decide to make the Weasleys a different ethnicity I guess. Anything is possible!

OP posts:
Tintackedsea · 27/03/2025 23:31

This is the first thing my daughter has auditioned for. Does anyone know what is “normal” for this kind of thing? We haven’t heard yay or nay or had any contact from them. Does that mean no? We’ve been very much managing expectations but the not knowing is a killer!

afrikat · 28/03/2025 08:46

Tintackedsea · 27/03/2025 23:31

This is the first thing my daughter has auditioned for. Does anyone know what is “normal” for this kind of thing? We haven’t heard yay or nay or had any contact from them. Does that mean no? We’ve been very much managing expectations but the not knowing is a killer!

We havent had any auditions since weve been with an agent but from what I know from the FB groups, if it's a 'no' it's quite common to just never hear back. Can you say if the audition was for one of the main characters or a supporting one? Just wondering if they've started casting wider yet

OP posts:
Tintackedsea · 28/03/2025 14:43

She just did the videos and so on for the open casting. Hoping for Hermione but I think she’d love anything at all. We aren’t very savvy about this stuff and she did it almost entirely under her own steam. I’ve kept saying that 1000s of people will be auditioning and that we’re proud of her making the videos herself etc. So tough when they love it so much!

afrikat · 28/03/2025 15:53

Tintackedsea · 28/03/2025 14:43

She just did the videos and so on for the open casting. Hoping for Hermione but I think she’d love anything at all. We aren’t very savvy about this stuff and she did it almost entirely under her own steam. I’ve kept saying that 1000s of people will be auditioning and that we’re proud of her making the videos herself etc. So tough when they love it so much!

From little bits I've heard i think the main 3 have had recalls etc so I would assume you havent been successful if you've heard nothing back. If shes interested in other roles I would recommend she gets signed up with a reputable agency (there are some good FB groups for advice) as I assume most casting will come via agencies

OP posts:
OP posts:
CormorantStrikesBack · 27/05/2025 16:47

Wow, their lives are changed forever. I’m so excited for this show. Fingers crossed it’s good.