Previously we told you there was to be an open casting call in the coming weeks for the roles of young Tom Riddle as well as Lavender Brown for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film. MTV now has an article online quoting director David Yates about his quest to cast the perfect person to play Lavender Brown, the girl who will capture WON-WON's fancy in the sixth Harry Potter film. The director has a test in mind, and it involves...snogging.
"You know what I'm going to do?" Yates said. "I never did this before, but I'm going to get Rupert together with the top five Lavenders, get him to come and read with them and snog with them. It's a chemical thing, and you want to feel that chemistry between them. That will help me decide."
"Really?" Grint asked — since this was news to him. "Oh, wow, I didn't realize that. That's going to be interesting. It's going to be embarrassing."
Also confirmed in the article is that the role of Tom Riddle will not be performed at all by previous actor Christian Coulson. David Yates says
"I think Christian's a brilliant actor, and I thought it was a terrific piece of casting, but he's too old now," Yates said.
...
"What I want is that equality of spirit," Yates said. "Someone who is odd, charismatic, cool, has a quite cold spirit which Voldemort embodies. If I find that, that's the most important thing."
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will begin filming later this summer and is due in theaters November, 2008. Thanks Ryan!
Oh, come on… Christian is old?! He’s the best Tom Riddle!!! Maybe he can do the part after Hogwarts, but is kinda weird if in CoS he’s in his 16s they will change him for another 16 boy.
Like, what the…
I’m with skycoast—Christian Coulson could still do the ‘slightly older/young adult’ Tom Riddle, in the scenes after Riddle leaves Hogwarts.
I think continuity of actors is appealling, and even if Coulson only did the scenes visiting Hepzibah Smith and asking for the DADA job it would make sense; I agree with both Muggleborn Kylie and Anne that Yates should at least give him a try before making a definitive statement.
and at some point, i’ll write up my predictions about which of the current young actors get to be in the re-make, 25 years from now ;-)
i am also very upset that they are not considering using christian coulson again. he was just absoloutley perfect for the part and, having seen him in a few things fairly recently (little britain, miss marple) he really does not look too old.
as many other posters mentioned, the actress playing myrtle is much older than the character, and actually looks older too.
i would find it less bothersome to have an actor that might look ever so slightly older than an inconsistency in the casting. for what i imagine will be a few fairly small scenes, i would think the would just go with coulson.
“So it’s alright for them to hire a woman in her late 30s/early 40s to play Moaning Myrtle, but they can’t have Coulson play Tom? Pathetic… He was fantastic for the part!! I hate recasting!”
That’s a completely different issue. They needed to cast someone who was older, but looked young when in her Myrtle get-up, so that over the years that she was needed for the film she wouldn’t age because a ghost doesn’t age.
Myrtle in GOF looks the same age as Myrtle in COS because once you get to your thirties your looks don’t change so much as when you are in your late teens and early twenties.
It was a very smart piece of casting.
The Christian Coulson thing is very different – he no longer looks like a teenager and they need someone who does.
Man, to be snogged by five girls in turn, each one trying to do it better than the one before, no hard feelings from the losers, and he even gets paid! Rupert’s mom better film his face on the entire casting!
But, read lines for the role, too? What lines are to be read? The dialogue between them seems to limitate at “Won-Won!”, then it’s all smoochie!
About Christian Coulson, his portrayal of Tom Riddle was very good. And I guess I’m a little disappointed about him not coming back but who knows, we might see another better Tom Riddle. Just give it time.
I have to say though, give Yates a chance. We haven’t seen the movie so we can’t judge him.
I am more than a little bit surprised they’re going to waste time on Lavender in the 6th film. The focus needs to stay on Harry to deliver a strong story. That having been said, I wish everyone good luck who tries out for the part (or for Tom).
Kendra, I disagree. I think of Ron and Lavender as how I was with a guy a while back. We were good at snogging (and other things I can’t mention here), but that was about it. That’s why it didn’t last long. Anyway, to be 16 and British, and one of the top five Lavenders.
Now how can be Christian too old? He was 25 when he was supposed to look 16, now he is 30.. I can’t see such big difference. Especially when there’s Shirley Henderson, who, okay, plays a ghost (as opposed to a memory, which isn’t such a real thing after all), but still, she is over 40, and plays a girl of 12. A dead girl of 12, that’s right, but if she is not too old, than Christian isn’t either.
Hahahaha, Rupert you are soooo adorable, you amuse me to no end, LOL. Now, if someone can make a video tape of that, just so I can watch his facial expression while he’s trying to overcome his shyness and embarrassment to snog all those 5 girls, hehehehehe, it’d give me my laugh of the year, possibly of several years :D
"...in light of Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Di
Oh, come on… Christian is old?! He’s the best Tom Riddle!!! Maybe he can do the part after Hogwarts, but is kinda weird if in CoS he’s in his 16s they will change him for another 16 boy. Like, what the…
Not a big fan of Yates here too.