The Harry Potter film series is one of the most successful of all time, grossing an estimated total of $7.7 billion since the first film was released in 2001.
The first film in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, made stars of its young actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.
Across the eight films, the series also starred up and coming actors including Tom Felton and Domhnall Gleeson, in addition to familiar faces including Maggie Smith, Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, David Tennant and Robbie Coltrane.
The films also saw some of the characters recast, and here, we look at some of the Harry Potter actors who were replaced through the series.
Lord Voldemort – Richard Bremmer / Ralph Fiennes
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Harry Potter’s enemy Lord Voldemort was seen in various guises throughout the film series, including as his younger self Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
In the first instalment of the film series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the climatic final scenes revealed that Professor Quirrell, played by Ian Hart, was helping Lord Voldemort.
He then reveals the face of Voldemort, who can be seen superimposed on the back of Quirrell’s head before he attempts to take the Philosopher’s stone from Harry.
Actor Richard Bremmer played Voldemort in the first film, but when the character returned to his full form in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, actor Joseph Fiennes took over the role for the remaining films.
Lavender Brown – Jennifer Smith / Jessie Cave
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Lavender Brown played the young wizard in love with Ron Weasley in the sixth instalment of the popular series, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
In the film, Brown leaves chocolates infused with a love potion in the Gryffindor Common Room, which Ron finds and subsequently, he falls in love with Brown.
However, the romance is short-lived.
Jessie Cave played Lavender Brown in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, replacing Jennifer Smith who had played the character in the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
The character was also played by Kathleen Cauley in the second film.
Griphook the Goblin – Verne Troyer / Warwick Davis
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Harry Potter first meets Griphook the Goblin in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, when he visits Gringotts Bank for the first time.
Griphook is the Goblin who takes Harry and Hagrid down into the vaults, where Harry finds the fortune left to him by his late parents.
Griphook was originally played by Austin Powers actor Verne Troyer, who passed away on April 21 2018.
Warwick Davis stepped into the role for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One and Two, starring as Griphook in storylines including Harry, Ron and Hermione breaking into Bellatrix LeStrange’s vault.
Davis was already starring the films as Professor Flitwick, and had been a part of the series in this role since it began.
Tom the Innkeeper – Derek Deadman / Jim Tavare
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Derek Deadman played Tom the Innkeeper in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first instalment in the film franchise.
He can be seen behind the bar when Harry and Hagrid are in the Leaky Cauldron.
In the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry is taken to the Leaky Cauldron on the Night Bus following an incident at the Dursley family home.
At the Leaky Cauldron, he is met once again by Tom the Innkeeper. However, the role was played by actor Jim Tavere.
Dumbledore – Richard Harris / Michael Gambon
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Albus Dumbledore was the Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, starring across the film series in major storylines until the character was killed by Professor Snape in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
In the first two films, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore was played by Richard Harris.
Harris fell ill while filming the second of the Harry Potter films and was admitted to a hospital in London.
He passed away on October 25 2002.
For the remaining films, actor Michael Gambon stepped into the role, taking on some of the series’ major storylines including his and Harry’s journey to destroy one of the items created by Voldemort in the sixth film.
Portrait in Gryffindor Common Room – Elizabeth Spriggs / Dawn French
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Every Common Room in Hogwarts is guarded by a portrait, and only the students who know the password will be allowed entry.
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Elizabeth Riggs was the portrait on the door to the Gryffindor Common Room, who asks Professor McGonagall the password.
In the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the character took on a much bigger role, and was played by comedian and Vicar of Dibley Actress Dawn French.
In the film, French can be seen trying to reach a high note, before smashing a glass, pretending it was her voice that smashed it.
In later scenes, the character is missing from her portrait and when found, says that she saw the character Sirius Black in the castle, who has escaped from Azkaban.
Bill Weasley – Richard Fish / Domhnall Gleeson
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Bill Weasley is one of the eldest of the Weasley children and brother to Charlie, twins Fred and George, Ron and Ginny.
He is mentioned by Ron during conversations with Harry in the films, and can also be seen in a picture of the family in a newspaper during the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
In the portrait, Bill Weasley is played by actor Richard Fish.
However, the character takes on a much bigger role in the last two films of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts One and Two.
Star Wars and About Time actor Domhnall Gleeson, son of Mad Eye Moody Actor Brendan Gleeson, took over the role for the last two films.
The films see Bill Weasley marry Fleur Decolour, before their wedding is attacked at the Weasley family home, and also sees Bill fight alongside his family in the battle of Hogwarts.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
