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!
Lol! I was waiting for something like this since I heard that they are casting Lavender Brown. Of course the audition has to involve snogging, because that’s pretty much the only thing that Lavender does in HBP. Rupert’s reaction to that is funny.
‘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.’ – puddlefoot
Actually, I think it’s completely the same issue. Since we only ever see the young Tom Riddle in flashbacks, you would need to have someone who will look the same from the filming of the second film to the filming of the sixth. You can only get that with an adult actor.
Plus, I agree with everyone who’s said that Christian Coulson doesn’t look at all too old. He was brilliant, and I will miss him.
I’m a bit upset now. This is the first thing that I’ve heard from David Yates that I’ve strongly disagreed with. I am disappointed.
I don’t know why they need to recast young Tom Riddle. I thought Christian did an outstanding job. Why worry about the age? According to the books Snape, James, Sirius, Remus and Lily should all be the same age and should be no older than 36 years old. They have actors playing them who look – and who in fact are! – considerably older. Why fuss about Christian?
I think the thing with Rupert is part amusing and part gross. Should there really be any chemistry between them?
I would love to play Lavender, but I’m not from the UK! I do have heritage from all 4 UK countries though, but, sadly, no accent lol. I’d be about the right age too, I’m the same age as Dan, 17 turning 18. Not sure how Lav Lav is supposed to look though, she’s never really described much.
I am SO incredibly bummed to hear they won’t be using Christian Coulson. They should go by whether they can make him LOOK like he did in CoS, not his current age. Continuity is so important, but sometimes I wonder if these directors want to do anything they can to make their film look different from the previous directors, which is unfortunate. I agree that this is one of the very few things I’ve heard that concerns me about Yates (along with my concern about whether he’s fleshed out the ending enough or done something similar to GoF and skirted over it, but we shall see). I guess all we can do is hope that WB hears our outcry and they change their minds! Last I heard, it sounded like Coulson was more than willing.
i thought the guy who played Jeremy Baines in Dr.Who (the family of blood) would be a good Tom Riddle i think he looks a lil like Christian Coulson but i think he’s even older. ahh well. i agree with budb too. i hope they have him 4 an older tom
I disagree with all the people who says that the Lavender part should be cut. The R/H plot is included in the films, and the Lavender episode is an important phase of their relationship. If they didn’t cut the Yule Brawl, they can’t possibly cut the whole Lavender thing, which is much more relevant to their progressing relationship.
Oh, poor Rupert! He’s so shy! Well, he needs to get used to making these sorts of sacrifices if he’s going to continue his acting career.:) Re: Christian Coulson…no big deal. In my opinion, he was a bit over the top in COS, anyway. I actually wish another Christian; Christian Bale; was younger. Imagine the great Tom Riddle he’d make! At any rate, I’m sure they’ll find someone suitable.
Aww, I’m really disappointed that Christian won’t be returning. I’ve read in interviews that he would have LOVED to have returned for the 6th film. =( I don’t understand why he couldn’t be the Riddle that goes to see Prof. Dumbledore for the DADA job, or the Borgin&Burkes Riddle. Or even freakin’ Tom Riddle Snr?!
Yates, I’m afraid you’ve made LOADS of people unhappy about this :/
And the Ron/Lav thing? Blah. I didn’t like that part about the book at all! But I do understand why it’s going to be in it. The major focus (I believe) was the horcruxes, and Tom Riddle memories and such, and who the half-blood prince is.
Do you have to have a british accent? Obviously, everyone in the harry potter movies have one so would it put people off if someone had a different accent?
"Potter and Chang!" screeched Pansy Parkinson to a chorus of snide giggles. "Urgh, Chang, I don't think much of your taste... At least Diggory was good-looking!"
Lol! I was waiting for something like this since I heard that they are casting Lavender Brown. Of course the audition has to involve snogging, because that’s pretty much the only thing that Lavender does in HBP. Rupert’s reaction to that is funny.