Casting for the HP movies

[shelaghcol <ShelaghC@aol.com>]

I tend to lurk around here more than post. But just for the record, 
and of course IMHO, what the folks that put these movies have going 
against them the *most* are the expectations of those who read the 
books.

And because of fanfic and readers' imaginations, most people already 
have decided *exactly* what most of the upcoming characters should 
look like. Witness all the "casting speculation" threads at FAP. 

The problem with such expectations is that when those expectations 
aren't fulfilled, people start condemning the production before it 
even begins filming. The idea that the Marauders are all extremely 
handsome is never even touched upon in any of the books and to make 
the assumption that they are, then complain when that assumption 
doesn't filter through to the movies is unfair to say the least.

I remember reading a very high volume of posts in many different 
places complaining long and loudly about Kenneth Branagh being cast 
as Gilderoy Lockhart - especially when it came out that Hugh Grant 
had also been considered.

Personally, I thought Branagh was positively brilliant! I found 
myself wishing for more Lockhart scenes, he fit the bill so well.

Of all things people could complain about in reference to the HP 
movies, my feeling is that casting should be the very lowest on the 
totem pole. I have rarely seen a set of movies so expertly cast as 
PS/SS and CoS.

While I had my own preferences particularly where Sirius was 
concerned, I also had made up my mind that the people in charge of 
finding just the right person to play each of the parts so far have 
done remarkably well and resolved not to be critical in advance of 
their decisions.

In short: give these actors a chance - you may find that they do the 
job better than any of you could possibly have expected.

Shelagh
teetering on her rickety soapbox once again