New Dumbledore and Harry Potter required (Film 3)

[ray gower]

New Dumbledore and Harry Potter required

With the tragic death of Richard Harris (Prof Albus Dumbledore) and Harry Potter himself close on being considered too big for the role where are the next five films going to go?

 

[Dave]

Here are the relevant news reports:

Potter Stars Mull Sequels
SCIFI WIRE -- Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and co-stars Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) told SCI FI Wire that they haven't decided yet whether they will appear in future films beyond a proposed third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, despite reports to the contrary. Two-time Harry Potter director Chris Columbus has previously said that he thought the young stars should retire from the franchise after completing Azkaban.

"I don't even know if they're going to make a fourth or a fifth film or whatever," Watson told reporters at a New York press conference to promote the upcoming sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. "But it's been a really, really good experience, and I've really enjoyed them," Watson said. "So, yeah, I suppose [she'd be open to further sequels]."

Radcliffe, sitting between Watson and Grint on a dais, said, "I'm definitely doing the third film. We're all doing the third film. After that, who knows? It takes more or less a year to film [each movie], so we've got quite a long way before we have to encounter that decision." Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets opens Nov. 15. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, to be directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is currently in preproduction for a 2004 release.

Potter Stars Should Stop
SCIFI WIRE -- Harry Potter director, Chris Columbus told SCI FI Wire that he thinks the franchise's young stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint,should bow out after they complete production late next year on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third of seven proposed films based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling fantasy novels. "I would encourage it, because they have to go on with their lives," Columbus said in an interview. "I certainly wouldn't fight that at all."

Columbus, who relinquished his director's chair following the upcoming Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to spend more time with his wife and four children,added, "If they don't want to come back, they shouldn't. There's nothing worse than a kid who doesn't want to be there. Trust me. I've worked with kids who don't want to be on the set. These [Potter] kids love doing their jobs. When that leaves, if you're a director or an actor, then you're sunk. Then you're just doing it for the money or whatever other horrible reason. You've got to get out of it." Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets opens on Nov. 15.

ACTOR RICHARD HARRIS DIES
ACTOR Richard Harris has died at the age of 72.
He died at University College Hospital in London, a spokesman for the family says.
He had been receiving treatment for Hodgkin's Disease at the hospital after falling ill earlier this year.

The spokesman said: "With great sadness, Damian, Jarid and Jamie Harris announced the death of their beloved father Richard Harris. "He died peacefully at University College Hospital, London, at 7pm today." The Irish-born actor starred in Gladiator, Unforgiven, and This Sporting Life, but he'd become known to a new generation of film fans through his role as Professor Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone.

He had just completed work on the new film, Chamber of Secrets, before falling ill this summer. He starred in some of the classic films of his generation, including A Man Called Horse, The Guns of Navarone and Mutiny on the Bounty, but was prone to fill the columns of tabloid newspapers with his wild ways and hard-drinking exploits. He was twice bankrupted, divorced, and underwent a reformation and acting resurrection in the early 1980s, when told he had only 18 months to live if he did not stop drinking. He responded by buying the rights to the stage production of Camelot and toured the world with it for five years, becoming a multi-millionaire in the process.

Who will replace them?
This site asks the same questions: http://opinari.iharrypotter.net/rubbish/articles/castcalled.html

Christopher Lloyd was in the frame for Dumbledore until Richard Harris accepted the part. In an interview I heard, Harris said he didn't want it, but was persuaded to take it by his granddaughter. Anyway, Christopher Lloyd could easily take over.

The child actors would be easier to replace, but IMHO I think they are quite good. Even though I read the books first, they have become the characters now, even to me.

 

[Dave]

Dumbledore replacement named in UK Tabloid

Officially, there is nothing on a Dumbledore replacement:

"It's impossible to even think about [any other actor in the role]. For me, there is only one Dumbledore," Chris Columbus, director of the first two Potter films, told 'USA Today' just hours before Harris' death.

According to the studio, the 72-year-old Harris had signed on to play Dumbledore for the entire planned seven installments of the franchise.

According to an 'Associated Press' report last year, Harris said he once asked his agent if it was possible to do a few "Harry Potter" movies -- but not all of them. He didn't like the idea of being committed to do all seven films. "It wasn't because I didn't like the material or the people involved."

"[The Agent] called me back and said, `You can get out of it,'" Harris recalled with a smile. "I said, 'Tell me, how!' And he said ... 'Die.'" That doesn't seem so funny now.

When asked last year about the potential success of the picture Harris said dryly, "I don't know if I can handle being in a successful picture. I'm used to failure."

Neither the Warner Brothers studio nor 'Prisoner of Azkaban' director Alfonso Cuaron will comment on the search to find a suitable Harris substitute, most websites say they are refusing to comment. But London's 'Daily Mirror' tabloid says the filmmakers have zeroed in on a likely candidate: Harris' 'Chamber of Secrets' stand-in, used in several scenes in "Chamber of Secrets" while Harris felt ill on the set.

The 'World Entertainment News Network' website via 'IMdB' people news quoted Harry Robinson, long before Harris was taken seriously ill, as saying "I'd love the role but I can't talk about it."

The 'Daily Mirror' quotes an unnamed insider close to the production as saying that 72-year-old Harry Robinson not only looks like the esteemed Irish actor, but also has his mannerisms and voice down pat, so much so that "producers have told Harry there's a very strong chance of him getting the part."

Harry Robinson apparently told the 'Daily Mirror' he'd be more than willing. "It would be my tribute to someone I was very fond of."

As usual these internet and tabloid stories must be taken for the rumours they are.

 

[Dave]

More Dumbledore rumours.

SCIFI WIRE -- The Dark Horizons Web site reported that Peter O'Toole is the latest actor rumored to be in line to replace the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore in the upcoming third Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban.

I guess that they sound much the same, voice-wise, because of the similar age and accent, and with the beard and wig they would look the same, but I'm not sure if this is not just one of those rumours.

 

[ray gower]

I think O'Toole could be a good choice, though not as the original Dumbledore. He does have a very distinct style when actting

 

[timdgreat]

Dumbeldores death(the actor)

so the guy who played Dumbledore is gone, does any on have any idea what is going to happen now? i heard some where, i think it might have been in this forum, that Christopher Lee might get the part now.

so any one?

 

[timdgreat]

well im replying to my own post sorry , it would appear that the actor who played Gandalf in LOTR, Ian Mckelan(spelling?) so what do people think will he do well?

 

[Dave]

merged timdgreat's posts with other thread and moved whole thing to HP Movies.

The Ian McKellan rumour has been quashed now. Here is the full story....

McKellen Won't Be Dumbledore

SCIFI WIRE -- Contrary to a report in the British tabloid The Sun, Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen will not succeed the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore in the third Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Dark Horizons Web site reported. The Sun ran a news item last week under the headline: "New Potter Wizard Is ... Gandalf!" stating that Warner Brothers has cast McKellen as the headmaster of Hogwarts School after fellow Rings cast member Christopher Lee turned it down.

But according to McKellen's own Web site, the veteran actor has not been cast in the role and Lee was not even asked. While the story is untrue, McKellen has not ruled out appearing in a future Potter film in some capacity, the Web site reported.

Is Gambon Dumbledore?

SCIFI WIRE -- E! Online reported that veteran British actor Michael Gambon is in line to play Professor Dumbledore in the upcoming third Harry Potter movie, taking on the role originated by the late Richard Harris, who died in October. The site also disputed recent rumors that Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen would put on a different set of wizard's robes for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Gambon received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his performance as Lyndon Johnson in HBO's Path to War. The classically trained actor studied with Laurence Olivier and was featured in Gosford Park, The Insider and the British miniseries The Singing Detective.

Alfonso Cuarón will direct Azkaban, with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint set to reprise their roles as Harry, Hermione and Ron, the site reported.

So, we have had rumours of Christopher Lloyd, Peter O'Toole, Harry Robinson, Ian McKellan, Christopher Lee and now Michael Gambon.

BTW don't believe anything you read in 'The Sun'. That's true anyway, but seriously, regarding anything Science Fiction, they have been proved to have been frequently wrong. They don't care either, as long as it sells newspapers.

 

[Annette]

I have to admit I do read 'The Sun' and had read reports about Michael Gambon being the 'new dumbledore'. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

annette

 

[Dave]

Gambon Not Dumbledore?

SCIFI WIRE -- A spokesman for Warner Brothers downplayed for SCI FI Wire recent reports that British actor Michael Gambon has been cast as Professor Dumbledore in the upcoming third Harry Potter film. "It's a rumor, and it's not confirmed," the spokesman said in an interview. The spokesman declined to offer further details.

Earlier this week, E! Online reported that Gambon was in line to take on the role originated by the late Richard Harris, who died in October, in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, based on the third of J.K. Rowling's best-selling fantasy novels. But other reports have disputed that story, with the studio denying that the casting has gone forward.

Warners do not deny that he may have been in talks about it, only that it's not confirmed.

 

[Tabitha]

I suppose this must be a quite urgent problem, considering the new movie must need to start filming in the next few months, for my money I would quite like to see Peter O'Toole in the role, out of those who have already been touted, anyway.

Or to go in a slightly different direction, what about someone like Derek Jacobi, or even David Jason?


As for a new Potter - I suppose when the time comes they will likely pluck another unknown, I would rather the franchise became Bond-like than tried to deal with an actor whose age far exceeds that of the character he is trying to play.

 

[ray gower]

David Jason is a superb actor, with a vast array of talents. But I'm not sure I could quite see him in the role, peeking over the table.

Derak Jacobi would be a good one though

 

[Dave]

Anyone familiar with the BBC Radio 4 series "Dead Ringers"?

If not go here for Dr Who Sketch

They had some suggestions for the new Dumbledore this evening. They decided that it would be best to restrict the auditions to actors who already have experience of beards. They suggested Rolf Harris, Billy Connolly, and Brian Blessed.

 

[ray gower]

ROTFLMAO!
Think I'll have to catch the repeat.

In the mean time I can see the auditions!

Rolf Harris: You see this poor little doggy. It's got multiple personality problems because of the three heads! But the doc says he's going to be olright. Now I'll just create an impressionist mureal with this 6" wand while performing Tie Me Troll Down Sport.

Billy Connolly: You see here, Jimmy? You Cannae park yer car on my carpet. It disnae sweep the muck tae good. Get it off or Ill gee yay a Glasgow Kiss!

 

[Dave]

This is off-topic, but if you do catch the repeat on Saturday lunchtime, look out for Ozzy Osbourne reading Dracula.

 

[ray gower]

Originally posted by Dave
This is off-topic, but if you do catch the repeat on Saturday lunchtime, look out for Ozzy Osbourne reading Dracula.

:rolly2:
Don't think anything was sacred from the Dead Ringers crowd at the moment. Including Lord of the Rings and the BBC's own sacred cow The Archers:rolly2: