[HPFGU-Movie] No more Dan?

[SALeathem at aol.com]

In a message dated 07/11/2001 01:32:22 GMT Standard Time, becky at mackenab.com 
writes:

<< So, this is a bit early but...
 All of the interviews that I've come across have blatently mentioned 
 both physical changes and the fact that the actors have only signed 
 on for 2 movies.  I have several questions a- after watching the 
 movie do any of us think we could really accept another actor in the 
 lead roles>>  

That worries me the most. To me, even though I've not seen the full movie 
yet, Dan *is* Harry. No one else imo could be Harry. I think Chris Colombus 
feels the same going by how many boys he saw yet he still wanted the kid he 
saw in David Copperfield and wouldn't stop till he'd persuaded his parents. 
Also JKR she's said that she'd like to adopt Dan, it was like meeting her 
long lost son etc.. It just all works. 

Re: physical changes. I really dont see why this is a problem, a bit like the 
whole voice breaking thing. In the books HRH & everyone else ages naturally 
each year. While there's no specific reference to when and how and what 
exactly happens to them as they go through puberty, it's pretty safe to 
assume they don't remain entirely the same as they did when they were 11. I 
also see no reason to any of the details of their adolescents (I mean the 
whole biology side of it) to be in the books. These aren't high school sex 
ed. novels after all.

<< and b- would any parent let their children work the long 
 hours inherent with a making a movie for multiple years? >>

Who knows. They're in the Independent again today and boy do they all look 
knackered. Dan's got a smile reminiscent of an 18 month old, but his eyes 
have huge bags under them, while Emma & Rupert look like they're nodding off.

<<c- would any 
 child be willing to put up with hours for 7 years (assuming all the 
 books are done) and finally >> 

Chris Colombus has said that he has the layouts reading for the next 3 films 
- CoS & 2 for GoF. So it'll be 8 years in total, assuming they rattle on at 
the pace they have been. If they have to replace actors etc. it's gonna take 
longer. Which raises a new question - will we as the fans be able to sustain 
our Harry mania for another 8 years? Yeah we're all *really* into him now, 
but how do we know we'll feel exactly the same in 8 years? And what if the 
book has a really sad ending? It might be too traumatic for us all to go and 
see the film versions. 

<<d- will these kids ever be able to break 
 out of these roles once they stop playing Harry, Ron, etc? >>

Hmm... In theory they should be able to. It's not so much could they go and 
play someone else, I think it's more will we/the public & press let them go 
and play someone else, or will they forever be HRH? Also, whose to say after 
8 years as the same people (if they all keep their roles) they'll want to 
act. In one magazine it says the running joke on set is "wants Dan going to 
be today?" in reference to his ever changing list of future jobs - stunt man, 
director, scriptwriter, make up artist/sfx person, director of photography, 
agents, editors, etc etc. At the moment he doesn't see hell bent on always 
being an actor. As for Emma & Rupert, they've never acted before, so again, 
they might not want to stay and do that. 

Sara