Rumor? Tom Felton bowing out.

[GulPlum]

Linda Williams wrote:

> From what I understand, all the actors signed
> contracts to do ALL the films.  I'm sure they can get
> out of those contracts but I imagine they would lose
> quite a bit of money.  Doing all 7 movies would
> certainly pay for as much college as Tom or any of the
> others would care to attend.

You heard wrong. Of all the cast, the ONLY person to sign up for 
seven movies was Richard Harris. Coltrane signed up for five (a fact 
which has generated much fan speculation that Hagrid is to bite the 
bullet in Book Five), although he has an option on the remaining two. 
All other adult acotrs signed up for the first two (excluding Zoe 
Wanamaker, who signed only for the first, and was not asked back for 
the second as Madam Hooch never appeared in the script). 

All the kids were signed up for two movies (although Radcliffe's pay 
for the second was dramatically increased after threats of industrial 
action just before the first movie was released and it became clear 
that it would be a runaway success). Contracts have recently been 
finalised for the third and all the cast are returning, but other 
than Coltrane and Harris, none of them have been tied to anything 
beyond that.

Apart from Radcliffe, nobody has admitted how much they've been or 
will be paid for their involvement in the franchise, but it should be 
added that Warners are notorious for being poor paymasters. Of 
course, even "bad" industry rates equate to a heck of a lot of money 
out of context. :-) So of course any of the kids with speaking parts 
won't need to worry about student loans if and when they choose to go 
into further education, as they'll probably get more than their 
parents earn for each of the years they're involved. :-)

It should also be noted that at present, Warner Brothers only have 
the rights to the first three books, with an option on the fourth on 
the same conditions; they have first refusal on the remaining books 
on terms to be negoatiated from scratch - it is unlikely that they 
will not take up the option on whatever terms if the third and fourth 
movies continue the success of the first and expected success of the 
second!