Based on J.K. Rowling’s fantasy novel series, the Harry Potter franchise has become one of the most popular franchises in Hollywood. Starring Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, the series continued for a decade and is also set for a live-action TV show reboot on Max. The director of the first two films in the series, Chris Columbus, has earlier shared that he and Rowling intended on having a “100% British” cast for the movie, as the story is based in England.
And they had some of the top Hollywood stars on their list, from Kate Winslet to Sir Ian McKellen. The long list also included the award-winning actor Hugh Grant. However, the 62-year-old English actor had to turn down the offer for the $9.6 billion franchise.
Hugh Grant Had to Turn Down the Harry Potter Sequel
The Harry Potter makers shortlisted some of the best Hollywood stars they found suitable to star in the film series. The Titanic star Kate Winslet was reportedly offered the part of Helena Ravenclaw. However, her agent turned down the offer, claiming that the actress did not want to “follow suit with every other actor in Britain by being a part of Harry Potter.”
Following the huge success of the 2001 film, the makers started working on its sequel. The British actor Hugh Grant was also in talks to star as Gilderoy Lockhart in the sequel. He was offered the part of the celebrity author who joins Hogwarts as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
However, he turned down the offer, and the role eventually went to the actor-filmmaker Kenneth Branagh. Grant’s agent released a statement regarding the same at the time, stating that the Notting Hill star had to turn down the offer as he is “committed to doing a movie with Sandra Bullock next February.”
He was already set to star alongside the Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock in the 2002 romantic comedy Two Weeks Notice. Bullock was someone he had been looking forward to working with, and he did not want to lose the opportunity, so he chose the 2002 rom-com over the Harry Potter sequel.
Finding a Good Script is Often a Challenge For Hugh Grant
Hugh Grant is widely known for starring in romantic comedies, and the actor has shared that he looks for “incredibly well-written” scripts before moving ahead with a project. He claims that it is often a challenge for him to look out for a good script, claiming that it is the “only real secret in this game.” And sometimes, he had to “turn down 990 scripts out of a thousand.”
“Then when you find one that’s good you grab it with both hands. After that you keep working at it, keep bullying the writer and make sure it’s as good as it possibly can be.”
While it isn’t confirmed if he had the chance to look at the script of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Grant has made it clear that working with Sandra Bullock was the priority for him at the time. While he was not sure why she would want to work with him, he was eager to star alongside her as he “always admired her” and found her gorgeous and charming.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is available on Max.
Two Weeks Notice is available on Prime Video.
Source: The Guardian
