Movies and Plays

Find Out Why Robin Williams Was Rejected For The Part of Hagrid

Robin Williams is a famous American actor, who had in his resume works like “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Good Will Hunting” and “Dead Poets Society”. He never got any part related to Harry Potter, but recently it was announced that he attempted to get Hagrid’s.

Janet Hirshenson, casting director of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, told the Huffington Post that Robin looked for Chris Columbus to negotiate his part in the film because he really wanted it. Although, Chris Columbus had to refuse, since only British actors could be a part of it.

“Robin Williams had called [director Chris Columbus] because he really wanted to be in the movie, but it was a British-only edict, and once he said no to Robin, he wasn’t going to say yes to anybody else”, said Janet.

Even for Harry the rule was valid. The only American actor who auditioned for Potter was Liam Aiken, who had worked with Chris Columbus in “Stepmom”. But, even so, Daniel Radcliffe was always the director’s favourite.

Nowadays it’s hard to believe there could be anyone other than Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid. He got the part as the half-giant as J.K. Rowling’s personal choice, and there are no doubts that his acting is great. But can you imagine how it would have been if Robin was chosen as Hagrid?

News translated by: Beatriz Souza