Casting and Hagrid's accent

[Simon Branford]

No: HPFGUIDX 424

After deciding that I had enough of this casting debate I now feel drawn to
remarking on it again. Something about famous last words should probably be
inserted here (I leave it up to you all to do this for yourselves)!

"People have suggested that Richard Harris isn't a good enough actor to play
Dumbledore, but no one has suggested another problem I see."

"However, Patrick Stewart doesn't, to my knowledge ever wear a wig for a
role, so maybe he didn't want to start now even for the role of Dumbledore."

If it were only a choice between these two then I would go with Harris. I do
not like Stewart and do not think he would bring anything to the role.
Harris was in Gladiator (am I thinking of the right person?) and I think his
acting was one of the few highlights of the movie (I thought the film was
rubbish). Dumbledore must be at least 85 (Hagrid was expelled at 13, CoS is
50 years later and Dumbledore was teaching then so must have been 20+) and
aging an actor by too much would be far too obvious.

"However in the interview the child was stating how he had only read the
fist two books and really remembered little of the characters."

I can see this being an advantage. It will mean that he brings little
preconceived ideas of the role and is more likely to play Harry as JKR
intended him to be portrayed. If he were a big fan then he would play the
Harry that he imagines instead of letting his acting doing the talking (he
is supposed to be a very good actor).

For someone who has had experience of the acting world before Dan seemed to
be far less relaxed than the two supposedly inexperienced kids. We wait too
see how they interact in the movie and how well they can all act!

"Well leave it to Warner Brothers to Muck up a good thing."

This is my concern for the movie in general! I can see it being a big
failing. The question is if the movie is rubbish then will the interest in
JKR and Harry Potter fall as a result?

"Can anyone tell what Hagrid's regional accent is supposed to be? I've seen
"Sommerset" and "Yorkshire" on the Web, but being from the US I don't know
much about English accents beyond "RP" and cockney. Is the accent likely to
pose any difficulty for Robbie Coltrane?"

Robbie Coltrane is a good actor and I see no problem in him doing whatever
accent is required of him. I have always thought that it is a Somerset
accent but this has been debated heavily and little conclusion reached! I
can understand the confusion. I would be able to locate very few American
accents.

Simon