Summary
- Gerard Butler auditioned for Sirius Black in Harry Potter, but the role went to Gary Oldman.
- HBO's Harry Potter TV adaptation will feature talented actors like John Lithgow and Janet McTeer.
- Butler, who missed out on a role in the original films, may have a chance to join the TV series cast.
Over the years, the world of Harry Potter has been brought to life by some incredible actors, with the likes of Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, and Dame Maggie Smith all putting together iconic performances as part of the Wizarding World. HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television adaptation is threatening to do the same, with gifted stars such as John Lithgow and Janet McTeer already being confirmed for the cast.
Even though the world of Harry Potter is vast and detailed, there are only so many characters that can be played, which means many brilliant actors missed out on roles they hoped to land. That just so happens to include Gerard Butler, who has been the star of countless blockbusters such as 300, P.S. I Love You, and most recently, How to Train Your Dragon.
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The Harry Potter movie series predominantly focused on hiring the best in class for British actors, and outside of Lithgow, HBO appears to be going down the same route. That's why Butler would've been a great contender for a role, although he's not someone that many fans have thought about. However, that's all going to change now as he will be part of the latest Harry Potter 'what might have been story,' after he confirmed to Kiss that he previously auditioned for a role in the movie series.
"I auditioned for the role that Gary Oldman ended up playing (Sirius Black), so I know that name because that's a role... I think I'd have done a good job, but hey."
Of course, Oldman went on to do a tremendous job as Black, who is one of the most important characters in the franchise, despite not being in the series for too long. Oldman appeared in a supporting role in three films and then made a cameo appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. He's a pivotal father figure to Harry Potter, providing a much-needed paternal figure for him at an essential stage in Harry's life. Black is one of the most experienced and talented wizards, and while he's portrayed to be dangerous and wild due to his time in Azkaban prison, he's ultimately a soft and caring person, which is something that Oldman brought to the role.
Oldman's involvement in the Harry Potter movies likely means it's unlikely that he will be part of HBO's upcoming adaptation, as the television cast has yet to bring anyone back from the film series. However, the Academy Award winner recently admitted he would've been interested in playing Albus Dumbledore, as Oldman believes he's now at the right age to tackle the Hogwarts headmaster. However, that role is going to be played by Lithgow, which did cause some controversy at the time due to him being American.
Butler was never involved in the Harry Potter movies. Therefore, he's a much more likely candidate to potentially have a role in the television series. However, Black is the only character that he knew by name, which wasn't a positive sign of that happening, given his limited knowledge of the franchise. His How to Train Your Dragon castmate Nick Frost will be taking on the role of Hagrid, though, which would open up the chance for them to reunite if Butler got involved with HBO's Harry Potter, potentially playing Sirius Black after all.
