Summary
- The Professor Flitwick change in the third Harry Potter movie involved a younger and mustached version of the character, played by Warwick Davis in a cameo role.
- Director Alfonso Cuarón's unique style and vision for Prisoner of Azkaban influenced a shift towards a darker and more mature tone in the franchise.
- Warwick Davis, known for playing Flitwick, has since taken on various roles in films such as Willow and the Star Wars series, and it remains possible for him to return as Flitwick in the new Harry Potter TV reboot.
The Professor Flitwick change in the third Harry Potter movie sees him looking very different, and while it seems like his role was recast, the actor remained the same. Instead of the old, grey-bearded professor from the first two movies, the version of the character audiences see in Prisoner of Azkaban is younger and sporting a mustache. In the books, Flitwick is described as a small, old wizard with a white beard, who needed to stand on a pile of books to teach. Columbus picked actor Warwick Davis and used makeup and prosthetics to age him, placing a large beard and a pointy hat on the Charms professor — until this Professor Flitwick change.
After directing two movies back to back, Columbus decided not to return. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban could then pass to director Alfonso Cuarón. Cuarón had a unique directing style and a specific vision for the movie. He also hadn’t read the books and didn’t feel constricted by J.K. Rowling’s descriptions. The school was darker, the shots were more dynamic and open, and characters abandoned their wizard-styled robes for more traditional Muggle clothing. With the Harry Potter reboot TV show on the way, the future Professor Flitwick change could be even greater.
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These visual changes weren’t limited to the main cast, bleeding to sets, and the Wizarding World in general. They would also eventually end up affecting the Professor Flitwick change. Although the character did not appear or play a part in the third movie, producers offered a cameo to Warwick Davis. This means Davis isn’t playing Flitwick in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Instead, he’s credited in the film as merely “Wizard.” This explains why his appearance is so different from the first two movies and why he’s conducting the school choir, which wasn’t a role Flitwick had in the books.
However, the new, younger look pleased Michael Newell, the director of The Goblet of Fire, and so it became Flitwick’s official appearance for the following movies. Cuarón’s directing and visual style influenced the rest of the Harry Potter adaptations, transitioning the movies into a more mature and realistic style, without losing its magical appeal. While the Professor Flitwick change created confusion at the time of its release, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is still a favorite among fans. What will be truly interesting to see, however, is how the new Harry Potter TV reboot will choose to depict Professor Flitwick.
Flitwick Wasn't The Only Change Alfonso Cuarón Made
The Professor Flitwick change wasn't the only thing that Alfonso Cuaron changed in the franchise, as it was with Prisoner of Azkaban and its ending that things started to take on a more mature tone. In the first two movies, Chris Columbus created films mostly geared toward kids, which was an area he specialized in. However, the books began to focus on more mature moments, and the movies needed to also change to keep up and remain loyal to the books. Cuaron was able to usher in the new era, with a darker and more mature look at the Wizarding World. There was danger in Columbus's movies, but Cuaron brought in the true threat of death.
The books introduced a much darker tale, with the introduction of Sirius Black and the Dementors into the tale. The movie needed to shift as well, and replacing Columbus with Cuaron was a good way to make that move. Cuaron made the world darker, both visually and emotionally. He brought in betrayals and characters who lived in a shade of gray. He explored Harry's tragedies up close and showed how Harry never had a choice in his life, making him a darker, more nuanced character. Daniel Radcliffe himself commented on the changes that the series made with Cuaron in the director's chair, if only for one movie.
"At the time, I think we can forget how absolutely left-field that choice seemed... But again, it’s one of the decisions that our producer David Heyman made that really shaped the next few years of the series and allowed us to go to a darker place."
What Warwick Davis Has Done Since Harry Potter
Outside of the Harry Potter Flitwick change, prolific actor Warwick Davis has had to take on a litany of transformations to play different characters. Davis is most famously known for playing the eponymous character in the 1988 fantasy film Willow, a role he recently reprised in the 2022 Disney+ television series. Davis and Disney seem to have a deal going as of late, as the actor can be seen in numerous Star Wars projects. After appearing as both Professor Flitwick and the goblin Griphook in the Harry Potter series, Davis appeared in numerous television programs, including Doctor Who, before signing on to Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Wollivan.
He then went on to appear in Rogue One as Weeteef Cyubee. Davis then went on to star in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as Wodibin before jumping on to the Star Wars Rebels voice cast Rukh. Warwick Davis also played Lickspittle in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and then moved on to his final appearance in the Star Wars universe in The Rise of Skywalker as Wicket W. Warrick. The Harry Potter Professor Flitwick actor can currently be seen in the Disney+ series Willow as the titular lead.
Could Warwick Davis Return To Play Flitwick In The HBO Harry Potter Series?
While the film series faced the Professor Flitwick change, it's probable that the upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot will pick one iteration of the character and stick with it — but could Warwick Davis return to play Professor Flitwick? The Harry Potter reboot was recently announced by Warner Bros. and HBO Max, so there's no news surrounding how the casting process will go. While many would like to see original Harry Potter actors return, possibly in different roles like that of Tom Felton playing Lucius Malfoy, the new show will probably end up doing a full recast from the ground up.
Things like casting won't be revealed until the project is further along in development, however, it is possible for Warwick Davis to play Professor Flitwick once again. Flitwick isn't expressly given a definite age in the books, other than being described as "old," and it's difficult to imagine a different actor in the role. Davis isn't retired, currently displaying his talents in Disney+'s Willow, and he hasn't said anything yet about returning or otherwise. While the probability of a full recast is strong, there's nothing so far that suggests Warwick Davis couldn't return as Professor Flitwick in the new Harry Potter reboot.
