20 Things That Almost Completely Changed Harry Potter Movies

9. Hugh Grant Almost Played Gilderoy Lockhart

Though Kenneth Branagh's take on Gilderoy Lockhart was a genius bit of casting, he wasn't the only choice to play the character. Initially, Warner Bros. had wanted Hugh Grant, who had just offered a surprisingly successful performance against type for Bridget Jones, and was in the midst of a mini renaissance as a bit of a cad. While it might have been good to see Grant ostensibly playing a caricatured version of himself - which he ultimately did in both About A Boy and Two Weeks Notice not long after - Branagh's oozing, smug creep was a brilliant performance. In other alternate casting possibilities, Kate Winsley was first choice to play the Grey Lady, but she was unavailable to discuss the role, and Rosamund Pike turned down the role of conniving journalist Rita Skeeter in order to play Jane Bennett in Pride and Prejudice.