As we reported a few days ago several actors from the Harry Potter films attended Ring-Con in Germany. HarryPotterXperts.de attended this event, and was able to conduct interviews with several of the actors including Chris Rankin, Stan Ianevski, and Jamie Yeates. Of note is a new interview with actor Chris Rankin, who said he hopes to return to his role as Percy Weasley in the “Deathly Hallows” films. Chris also gave his thoughts on Percy and what scenes he is looking forward in the final Harry Potter films. Of “Deathly Hallows” Chris said:
“One of Percy’s finest moments is walking back through that portrait into the Room of Requirement at the end of the seventh one when he finally comes back. I can’t remember what he says, something like ‘Did I miss anything?’ (laughs). I just remember reading that in the book and going ‘YES! Good boy!’. That would be fun. And then obviously getting to do a bit of action would be quite nice because Percy doesn’t get the hardest job really. He just walks around a lot and shouts at people. They might actually give me a wand if I did the seventh film, that would be nice. I haven’t had a wand yet!”
On the role of Percy in the books, Chris was asked if felt Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling “wants to teach us some kind of lesson through Percy?” He responded: “There are a lot of morals in Harry Potter and everyone realises that Percy was an idiot and even Percy knew he was an idiot so whether or not she was trying to teach us that blood is thicker than water and all that, I don’t know. I guess so. He’s just a good character from the point of view that he is just a prick really. It’s nice that he has the chance to come right in the end. I don’t think it’s wise to try and work out what Joanne K. Rowling is thinking because you could be there a long time.”
At the link be sure to check out the various videos, including one of Chris singing! Enjoy! Of interest as well are two additional articles, including this new interview with Stanislav Ianevski who talks his role as Viktor Krum, noting on a possible return for “Deathly Hallows.” Stan said that he doesn’t “know yet. It depends if they want to bring Krum back. He comes in for a little part in the book but you never know. I would love to be back.”
Finally, be sure to catch the interview with actor Jamie Yeates, who played the role of Slytherin Seeker Marcus Flint, who revealed that he has been hard at work pursuing a career in the film industry as an Assistant Director. He also spoke of his character by saying “He is a real obnoxious, big-headed, alter ego character and has this presence in the book when he’s playing Quidditch that everyone fears him. He is a feared character because you know that he’s continously out just to hurt people. They are generally frightened by that and when he smiles they’re probably frightened even more.”
Hm, well if there was a lesson to learn from Percy’s obsession with getting ahead through the Ministry, it would have to be that the twins got farther following their joy with the joke shop than his blind ambition could ever have gotten him. (responding to Chris Rankin’s comments about how it was sucha bright wizard could be taken in by propaganda)
I am glad that he liked the “Percy Moment” in DH. I hope they give him a wand in DH becaue I would hate to be a actor/actress playing a wizard/witch (especially one that I think has a important role in the story) and not have a wand in any of the movies.
I hope every actor who ever appeared in the series gets at a small cameo in the last film! Include Richard Harris via digital magic. And, while they are at it, add in every character and creature in the books that were cut from the scripts. Just a shot in the background or photo on a table would sell tons of DVDs for us to search in the long eternity of Potterlessness to follow the last film.
Well, obliviously this actor is not very deep. Percy was sensitive about his
family’s lack of wealth and prestige and hoped to advance himself by joining
with those who appeared to have it. This might not have been so bad except the people he was following were unable to see to the reality of the situation. Like many of the rest the Ministry he rejected evidence to the contrary including that from his own family. In sum, he was blinded by ambition.
Speaking of Deathly Hallows (and by “speak”, I mean ramble on a bit…), I happened to switch to the TCM channel just now and “My Fair Lady” is on. I haven’t seen it in years!
At Higgins’s, Liza mentions that she’s from Tottenham Court Road… and I thought, “wait a minute…” I had to check to make sure, but that’s where Hermione brings Ron and Harry from the wedding. Hm…
And with her early catchphrase “I’m a good girl, I am!”, Liza reminds me strongly of … Winky.
I really liked that part in DH with Percy. The reunion made me get a lump in my throat. They better have it in the movie, though they haven’t had Percy in the films since either the second or third one, I can’t remember which.
Remus Lonno, Totenham Court Road is in the heart of London, it is perpendicular to the top of Oxford Street. Historically, it was a bustling street for market traders, today it still is but it has now become the centre of computer/electronics trading. But unlike standard high street stores, you can barter in the old traditional way in any computer/electronics store you walk in. It amused me when it was featured in DH, but it felt as if JK was imagining a historical Totenham Court Road as opposed to the modern one. I know it well, as I shop there often being an IT engineer by profession!
Posted by Professor Potter on October 09, 2008, 10:47 PM
report to moderator
I know all that, prof… wish I was there, actually. :(
Even though DH will be apprx 5 hours long, I’m not sure if Ranking will have his favourite moment (I loved that moment too) since the movies have never established his character. Sure we see him on screen but there is zero development. If there are priorities of which characters to emphasise on in DH, Percy would be a low, imo. The moral in Percy’s redemption is interesting. He was very naive and let his lust for offiice promotion etch away his rationality and care for his family’s welfare. But he redeemed himself at the very end, having been slapped on the face with a wake up call with the horrifying truth of Voldermonts uprising. But what is the moral? I think the moral is all about remorse and forgiveness (2 very strong Christian elements). That everyone should be given a chance to mend their ways or make up for wrong doings. Rowling demonstrated this with several characters, Dudley, Kreature, even Malfoy. Harry even gave Voldermont an opportunity but he alas was a lost cause!
Posted by Professor Potter on October 09, 2008, 11:10 PM
report to moderator
Freakin’ awesome hair, Chris. I hope he does return- I like him as Percy, if only they gave him horn-rimmed glasses. That quote about “you could be there a long time” is right on the money.
I actually CRIED when Percy came back to his family…
I hated his guts in books 5 and 6, I really did, but when he entered and redeemed himself, I actually cried and wanted to hug him so hard… and when Fred died, how Percy was the one that felt it most… it’s all so emotional and so beautifully written…
I loved it
Posted by Dark Lord Hector on October 10, 2008, 03:43 AM
report to moderator
@ Random Person: Percy was actually in the fifth film, as the personal assistant to Fudge! He doesn’t say anything, but everytime Fudge is on screen he’s in the background. Pretty neat. :)
Don’t think he’s in GoF though, and I can’t remember him from PoA either.
Yeah your right Linda Lupos. Percy was in the fifth moviebut he wasn’t in GOF though. Not sure if he was in the POA. So glad that Percy saw the truth in the end. It seemed to be killing Mr and Mrs Weasley, not that any of their other children seemed to care. I wasn’t angry at Percy for leaving his family and not trusting them at first because who would want Voldemort to come back, but when he realised that Voldemort was really back then I started to get angry with him. He just wasn’t being fair to has family. NOT AT ALL!!!
"Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."
Hm, well if there was a lesson to learn from Percy’s obsession with getting ahead through the Ministry, it would have to be that the twins got farther following their joy with the joke shop than his blind ambition could ever have gotten him. (responding to Chris Rankin’s comments about how it was sucha bright wizard could be taken in by propaganda)