12 Worst Casting Decisions In Harry Potter Movies

It can't all be Alan-Rickman-As-Snape good...

By Tom Chapman /

Across eighty Harry Potter films, and the ongoing Fantastic Beasts films, we have seen the cream of the acting crop take up their wands.

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J.K. Rowling's expansive world was criticised for the way it crammed all seven books into around 16 hours, and there were always going to be character casualties. Stars like Zoƫ Wanamaker and John Cleese were in the first few films, then vanished as the story focused in on the core members.

The cast of unknown child actors grew from their awkward first performances to dominate the box office and become stars of their own. You only have to look at Emma Watson's upcoming Beauty And The Beast to see what the Potterverse did for the kids.

But aside from those performances - and some of the starrier A-listers - it wasn't all perfect in the casting department. Some decisions seemed so bad, you wish you could "obliviate" the memory from your mind.

From a change of hair colour, to a complete character upheaval, or just missing the mark, here at the 12 worst casting decisions in Harry Potter films.

12. Helen McCrory As Narcissa Malfoy

Is that you Olivia Coleman? You would be forgiven for thinking that Helen McCrory's wide-eyed performance as Mother Malfoy was actually Peep show's Coleman, and some wish it was. With both Tom Felton and Jason Isaacs excelling as the Malfoy men, the matriarch failed to win anyone over.

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Perhaps it is something to do with her lack of emotion? Where book Narcissa is seen as an emotional mother to the point of hysterical, little of this can be found in the films.

The Narcissa of the books is described as having long blonde hair, making her stand out as different from the rest of the Black family, however here comes David Yates to make her look more like her older sister, Helena Bonham Carter's Bellatrix Lestrange.

With the Mallen Streak running through her hair, McCrory is reduced to a comedy prop thanks to her skunk wig. Naomi Watts, Natasha Richardson, and Jennifer Saunders were all rumoured for the part, and you can't help but imagine them doing a much better part. Not completely miscast, McCrory's part was just unmemorable to say the least.

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