James McAvoy, known for his extensive film repertoire ranging from the X-Men series to horror films like Split and IT: Chapter 2, recently revealed some surprising insights about his career. On the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, McAvoy shared that he came close to joining the beloved Harry Potter franchise during the early stages of his acting career.
What might have been a significant turn, McAvoy was nearly cast as Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Tom Riddle, the young man destined to become the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, plays a pivotal role in the second Potter film. The character appears in several crucial scenes, particularly in a distorted flashback sequence and the climactic battle in the Chamber of Secrets. Ultimately, the role went to Christian Coulson, who delivered an impressive performance in the 2002 film. The character was later portrayed by Frank Dillane in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2009.
McAvoy’s anecdote adds a fascinating wrinkle to the Harry Potter casting history. He recounted being approached early in his career with an offer that included a substantial retainer fee. However, the catch was that accepting the offer would have prevented him from working on other projects for about seven months. His agent, Ruth Young, advised against taking the role, suggesting instead that he pursue other opportunities. Deciding to follow her wise counsel, McAvoy chose to star in a stage play, where he faced a less than welcoming audience but gained invaluable experience.
James McAvoy’s decision to forgo the opportunity with Harry Potter in favor of honing his craft on stage turned out to be fortuitous. Although he missed out on a significant paycheck that would have been quite substantial for an actor at the dawn of his career—around £40,000—McAvoy’s stage performance contributed to broadening his range and skill set. This choice underscores the actor’s commitment to his development and ability to navigate the sometimes complex path of a burgeoning career in entertainment.
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James McAvoy’s career trajectory proves that sometimes the roles you don’t take can be just as crucial as the ones you do. As he continues to expand his impressive body of work, there’s always a possibility that McAvoy could one day join the Wizarding World in a future iteration. With a Harry Potter series currently in development, McAvoy’s talents could find a home in one of the many colorful characters that the franchise has yet to explore.
For those eager to see his latest work, McAvoy stars in the film Speak No Evil, now playing in theaters nationwide. Meanwhile, fans can revisit the Harry Potter films with a subscription to Max. To keep up with upcoming movie releases, make sure to check out our 2024 movie release schedule.
