Robin Williams Wanted To Play The Best Harry Potter Character
Robin Williams was set on playing Remus Lupin, or even Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise, but strict rules kept him from auditioning.
Robin Williams wanted to be in the Harry Potter films as Remus Lupin or even Rubeus Hagrid. According to CBR, the late actor expressed interest in playing Hagrid, Hogwarts’ towering gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys and Grounds and one of Harry’s dearest friends and guides. But the role that really caught his fancy was that of Remus Lupin, professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Robin Williams was set on playing Remus Lupin, or even Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise, but strict rules kept him from auditioning.
The idea of Robin Williams appearing in a Harry Potter film isn’t terribly out of the question, not only because Williams was a brilliant performer in both dramatic and comedic roles, but because the series frequently featured such celebrities as Dame Maggie Smith, Kenneth Branagh, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, and Emma Thompson (not to mention comic actor John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick).
Such an array of stars could certainly make room for a legend like Williams. But the Jumanji actor had one big factor against him, despite a significant connection to the Potter franchise.
Robin Williams did approach Columbus and ask about the Harry Potter role, but was not even allowed to audition because there was a strict rule at the time that the films would only feature British and Irish actors.
One of Robin Williams’ most well-known roles is as Euphegenia Doubtfire (aka Daniel Hillard) in Mrs. Doubtfire, which was directed by Chris Columbus. Columbus directed the first two Harry Potter films and was a producer on the third, in which Professor Lupin makes his debut.
So, it might seem that Williams was in a prime position—both as a major celebrity and as a friend and collaborator of the producer—to land the role. Unfortunately, he was disqualified before he even asked to be considered because he was not British.
Robin Williams did approach Columbus and ask about the Harry Potter role, but was not even allowed to audition because there was a strict rule at the time that the films would only feature British and Irish actors. It seemed that a distinctly British series should be a place where actors from the isles should be able to expect roles to not be taken from them by people of other nationalities.
While this makes sense to a degree as there would have been widespread objection to non-Brits getting choice roles in a British franchise, it did cause some limitations.
Harry Potter Abandons Original Rules
One of those limitations was Robin Williams missing out on the Harry Potter role he wanted. Columbus related that it was difficult to say no to his friend, but that he had to abide by the same rule as everyone else. The Potterverse movies later abandoned this rule for the Fantastic Beasts series, which has featured such American stars as Zoë Kravitz and Johnny Depp.
But that was far too late for Robin Williams to be involved in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban or any other film in the series. He certainly had the dramatic skills to play Lupin’s conflicted, complex personality—one which at first is unclear as either friend or foe.
He also could have brought his comedic sensibilities to the part where appropriate, as when he teaches his students to overcome Boggarts with the Riddikulus spell.
As it stands, David Thewlis famously took the role Robin Williams had wanted in the Harry Potter films and we’ll never get to see Williams’ interpretation. But Thewlis’ Lupin is a standout character in the series and we’re certainly glad for the version we have.
