The Making of the Potterverse Read Online Free PDF

this really whetted my appetite and I immediately said, ‘Yes.’”
    A rumor making the rounds was that an American named Liam Aiken — who had worked with Chris Columbus on
Stepmom —
was going to be cast as Harry. When asked about it, Rowling responded, “Ignore the Internet, ignore the
Daily Express
. Harry has not been cast yet. And believe me, he’s going to be British when he is.” Most people, of course, didn’t realize that that was actually part of the deal negotiated with Warner Brothers.

August 2000
    The rumor mill began heating up regarding who would play Harry in the upcoming film, with 13-year-old British actor Gabriel Thomson rumored to be in the running (which Thomson and his agent both denied). Oscar winner Haley Joel Osment expressed interest in the role, though obviously he didn’t get it.
    In an interview with
Entertainment Weekly
, J.K. Rowling discussed the themes of bigotry that are explored in
Goblet of Fire
. “Bigotry is probably the thing I detest most,” she said. “All forms of intolerance, the whole idea of ‘that which is different from me is necessarily evil.’ I really like to explore the idea that difference is equal and good. But there’s another idea that I like to explore, too. Oppressed groups are not, generally speaking, people who stand firmly together. No, sadly, they kind of subdivide among themselves and fight like hell. That’s human nature, so that’s what you see here. This world of wizards and witches, they’re already ostracized, and then within themselves they’ve formed a loathsome pecking order.” In the same interview she was asked what the experience in Hollywood had been like. “The person I was most nervous about meeting by far was Steve Kloves,” she admitted, “who’s writing the screenplay. I was really ready to hate [him]. This was the man who was gonna butcher my baby. The first time I met him, he said, ‘You know who my favorite character is?’ And I thought, ‘You’re gonna say Ron.’ It’s real easy to love Ron, but so obvious. But he said, ‘Hermione.’ I just kind of melted.”
    A deal was struck for the 900-year-old Gloucester Cathedral todouble as Hogwarts in the first Harry film. The Reverend Nicholas Bury mused, “It is one of the most beautiful cathedrals and its friendliness and human scale have often been remarked upon. It is a good place for a story about a young boy making friends in his first year at an unusual school.”

    Director Chris Columbus poses with Daniel Radcliffe, days after the boy had been chosen from thousands of applicants to play Harry Potter in the films. (Dave Caulkin/AP Photo)
    A school head in Singapore proclaimed that children should not read the Harry Potter novels as they could be an “anti-Christian influence.”
    On August 21, Warner Brothers announced that 11-year-old Daniel Radcliffe had been signed for the lead role, and that he would be joined by Emma Watson as Hermione and Rupert Grint as Ron. Said the studio’s Lorenzo di Bonaventura, “We searched through all the Muggle and Wizard households just to find the right young people to play Harry, Ron and Hermione and we have found them in Dan, Rupert and Emma. These are magical roles, the kind thatcome around once in a lifetime, and they required talented children who can bring magic to the screen.” Chris Columbus added, “We had seen so many enormously talented kids in the search for Harry. The process was intense and there were times when we felt we would never find an individual who embodied the complex spirit and depth of Harry Potter. Then Dan walked into the room and we all knew we had found Harry. We were equally elated upon meeting Emma and Rupert. I couldn’t be happier to work with such talented, young actors.” In response to the casting news, J.K. Rowling enthused, “Having seen Dan Radcliffe’s screen test, I don’t think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry. I wish Dan, Emma and Rupert the very best of luck,