bigger names + bigger pay = smaller budget?

[Severina Amadenna Salem-Snape]

Hi Sassy Snape - first post here, but I was wondering:

Does anybody else think the movies are becoming more of a bigger-
acting-names-must-be-seen-to-be-cool sort of thing. 

I loved that Quirrel and Tom Riddle were not played by big names 
(sorry, taking this from a North American perspective)and some of the 
other characters were peppered with some interesting character 
actors. I know they had some other big names for the unknown youths 
to play off of, but now the kids are names, so do we really need a 
big name to add to the production?

Now with bigger names for key characters (Gary Oldman, Ralph Finnes, 
Julie Christie, Dawn French, Miranda Richardson) comes bigger 
paycheques and less of the budget for the actual film. And these 
actors may be in the position to ask for more money for future films. 
(Madam Hooch thought she should get more and she wasn't exactly huge 
in NA or had a big part)

Let's just hope Prince Charles doesn't want to do a walk-on at one 
point...a little too trendy. Also, I am not saying these actors 
aren't good actors, just that it could pull the focus from the films.

Sassy