The Harry Potter franchise took the audience by storm as the mind-bending imaginary universe of the boy wizard was brought to the silver screen. In fact, it might be fair to say that an entire generation grew up alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as they got to live their fantasies vicariously through them, rooting for them as they set out to fight evil.
There is something very fulfilling about seeing our favorite literary characters come to life. One of the reasons the Potter franchise captured the imagination of millions was the perfect casting; almost every character was translated onto the screen just the way one pictured them in their minds. However, even though the stellar ensemble across eight films included many major and minor British actors like Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall and David Tenant, there were several who were left out. Here are ten we cannot believe were not part of this huge ensemble.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Cumberbatch catapulted into mainstream with his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in BBC One's Sherlock, although he was already fairly recognized as an actor when he was cast as the eccentric fictional detective.
Today, Cumberbatch is one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood and the British film industry alike, having bagged the title role in Marvel's hugely popular Doctor Strange franchise and performed in several Academy Award-nominated films. Given where he stands today, it seems odd that he did not feature even in a minor capacity in the Potter films.
Martin Freeman
One cannot have Sherlock without Watson which has been proved time and again as Freeman and Cumberbatch appeared together in the same franchise over and over again. Cumberbatch popped in as the dragon Smaug in The Hobbit films led by Freeman, while the latter had a small role in Black Panther, which was a part of Marvel's overall cinematic universe, just like Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange.
Perhaps that's why we saw neither of these two actors in the Potter films, for what they do, they do together! Jokes apart, one can easily visualize the Hobbit sized Freeman as a tiny wizard, or better still, Remus Lupin -- the irony of a small man transforming into a huge werewolf wouldn't have been missed.
Colin Firth
One major actor missing from the Potter franchise was Colin Firth. Firth became a heartthrob when he essayed the role of Mr. Darcy in BBC's Pride & Prejudice (1995) and has since gone on to make his mark as one of the most senior, and respected members of the film community.
One wonders why the producers of the Potter films did not consider casting him in a major role, as a trusted member of the Order of the Phoenix, or even in a small role as, say Cornelius Fudge. Or perhaps they did, after all casting such a vast ensemble is a mammoth task and not all actors would make it to the final cut. A veteran like Firth might simply not have the dates.
Stephen Fry
Speaking of veterans, it is hard to imagine why the legendary writer/actor/comedian never made it to the Potter films. He did, after all, appear in a bit role in the last two parts of The Hobbit franchise as the despicable master of Laketown.
It would have fun to see Sir Fry in a bit role in Harry Potter--perhaps as the unintentionally funny Filch, or even the Gryffindor ghost Nearly Headless Nick, although John Cleese was good enough. For those who don't know, Fry is not altogether excluded from the Potterverse for he is the voice artist in the audio version of the books.
Hugh Laurie
If you have Fry, then you must have Laurie! Hugh Laurie was another actor we missed in the Potter films and who would have been a hoot even in a minor role.
Laurie became a household name with his portrayal of the eccentric genius Dr. Gregory House in the popular medical drama House M.D., even though many already knew him from his roles in A Bit of Fry and Laurie, alongside Stephen Fry, or Blackadder. Laurie, with his characteristic sarcasm, would have aced it as the Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, the role played by Bill Nighy, or even as a Death Eater.
Rowan Atkinson
Just imagine if Mr. Bean had ended up in the Potterverse. Atkinson had earlier appeared in another fantasy drama as the robot Mondavarious in the 2002's live-action Scooby-Doo film, also starring Sarah Michelle Geller, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Matthew Lillard.
Sir Rowan would have been a great addition to the Potter cast and it's unbelievable that he wasn't in it. It would have been hysterical to watch him swoop over unsuspecting students as the sadistic, cackling prankster, Peeves, the Slytherin House ghost who never made it to the films at all. He would also have been perfect as the wandmaker Ollivander peering at young witches and wizards from under his bushy eyebrows and finding wands that chose their master.
Charles Dance
Veteran actor Charles Dance may be known to the younger generation as the cunning patriarch Tywin Lannister or the bad guy in the latest Godizlla movie but he has been around for decades. He was also seen in the Netflix historical drama The Crown, as Lord Mountbatten during his twilight years.
Dance tends to excel in roles that are a tad bit sinister, so he would probably have been brilliant as a dark wizard, like Grindelwald. It's strange that actors such as these never got cast in one of the most popular film franchises of all time.
Idris Elba
The Potter franchise is not known for its racial diversity, with only a handful of Black or Asian actors in very peripheral roles. For the few roles that were there like that of Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was an important member of the Order and later became Minister of Magic, Elba would have been a superb fit, and his looming, reassuring presence was sorely missed.
Of course, Elba had been busy starring in his own dark psychological thriller, Luther, and recently also became a part of the MCU in a small but vital role as Heimdall, the protector of the Bïfrost of Asgard. Now, Elba's stardom has skyrocketed with major roles in Hobbs & Shaw and the upcoming The Suicide Squad, making his absence in Hogwarts all the more glaring. But to be fair, having the People's 2018 sexiest man alive strutting about in the Potterverse would surely have stirred things up.
Tilda Swinton
The actresses who were surprisingly absent from the Potter films should go into a separate list of their own, for there are many. However, we have reserved the best for the last.
Tilda Swinton, best known for playing the White Witch in the first installment of the Narnia series and more recently the Ancient One in Doctor Strange, would have been ideal as a powerful witch in the wizarding world. And despite her amazing chameleon-like acting abilities, she was nowhere to be seen, even in a short cameo, in any of the eight Potter films.
Judi Dench
The Potter franchise had some celebrated actors and actresses in its luminous ensemble, each one contributing in their unique way to leave a lasting legacy for the films. Dame Maggie Smith is one such actress who played the feisty Professor McGonagall and became known to a generation of young movie-goers as such. There is only one other actress who could have essayed the role with as much aplomb and that was Dame Judi Dench, who younger viewers probably best know as M from the James Bond movies of the '90s all the way to Skyfall.
However, the latter would have been equally brilliant in a small role as any one of the other Hogwarts professors. In whatever capacity, fans would have absolutely loved to catch a glimpse of her, pottering around, putting people in their rightful place.