When the Harry Potter books were first published in 1997, their popularity quickly grew, which soon led to a film adaptation. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001 and introduced audiences worldwide to the magical world of JK Rowling. Daniel Radcliffe took on the title role, bringing the beloved character Harry Potter to life.
While fans appreciated the combination of young actors and experienced British performers, there was ongoing debate about whether the actors truly resembled their book characters. In November 2022, YouTuber Suraj Kukkipady created a video comparing AI-generated images of the book characters with the actors from the film series. This video, inspired by a BoredPanda article, sparked discussions about how well the actors matched the descriptions of the characters in the books.
Some of the AI images match the actors exactly, such as Clémence Poésy as Fleur Delacour in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. But most do not. Casting for the Harry Potter series was a daunting task, especially because the main trio – Harry, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) – were just 11 years old when the story began. Producer David Heyman and his team needed to find young actors who could mature with their roles.
Radcliffe, Grint and Watson grew into their roles over eight films, accompanied by respected British actors such as Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman and many others. Despite the discrepancies between the AI images and the film portrayals, the actors brought their characters to life in a way that resonated with audiences, leveraging both their talent and the films’ creative direction.
Looking ahead, these AI comparisons may soon be a thing of the past. HBO is planning a reboot of the Harry Potter series. Announced in April 2023, the series will dedicate an entire season to each book, retelling JK Rowling’s story in more detail. Given the cuts in the original films, this could offer fans a more comprehensive experience.
However, there are some potential issues to consider. Rowling, the author, faced significant controversy, prompting some of the franchise’s stars, such as Daniel Radcliffe, to speak out against her views. In addition, certain narrative elements, such as the house-elves’ “love” of servitude, would be better left untouched in a modern adaptation. Hopefully, with the involvement of experienced creators such as “Succession” alumnus Mark Mylod, the new series will find actors who are closer to the original descriptions of the characters while appropriately updating the story for today’s audiences.
The original Harry Potter films are currently available to stream on Peacock.
