Last week (July 18, 2018), we reported that Robert Pattinson may have landed a role in the upcoming Harry Potter documentary chronicling J.K. Rowling’s creation. A day later, it was officially announced that Robert would be playing Cedric Diggory in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The actor previously starred in the 2005 film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Could this be the next big step in Robert’s acting career? Or will his star continue to rise as J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world takes over the silver screen? Let’s take a look at how the Harry Potter fandom reacted to the news of Robert’s casting in the highly anticipated new release:
‘WAS ROBERT PATTINSON IN HARRY POTTER?’
On July 18, 2018, Variety revealed that Robert had been cast in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures Harry Potter documentary chronicling J.K. Rowling’s creation. Among the various rumors that preceded this news was the suggestion that Robert may have landed the role of Cedric Diggory, a.k.a. “The Boy Who Lived.” Could this be the next big step in Robert’s acting career? Could this be the role that gets him back on track after a string of low-performing movie debuts? Or will his star continue to rise as J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world takes over the silver screen?
As soon as the news broke that Robert had been cast in Harry Potter, the discussion turned to whether or not he had actually been in the previous installment of the franchise (a.k.a. “the Harry Potter series”). Although he never specifically mentions it in the film, there are a handful of moments where it’s possible to see glimpses of Robert’s face in the crowd. But did he actually appear in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? Let’s take a look:
MATCHING MUG SHOTS
In Goblet of Fire, we are introduced to Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson). Like many other teenagers in his situation, Cedric spends most of his time in the summer of 1981 either wandering aimlessly around the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, waiting for something exciting to happen, or drinking butterbeer with his friends. At one point, he even attends a Hogwarts Spectacular (shown above) that is supposedly attended by Harry Potter himself. Although they don’t attend the same performance, it’s possible that they both show up for the fireworks display at the end of the evening.
If we look closely at the above images, it’s possible to see a few matching details between them. Most notably, the shape of the eyebrows, the nose, and the mouth. Additionally, if we compare the images of Cedric from Goblet of Fire to those of Harry Potter from later in the series (namely, 2019’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard), we see that the former shares a similar pose and expression as the latter. Could this be a sign that Robert is indeed playing the role of Cedric Diggory? Let’s take a closer look:
THE MATCHING FURNITURE LINE
In addition to matching eyebrows, the above images also share a common piece of furniture. In the first photo (taken from Goblet of Fire), we can see that Cedric is sitting on the left side of the set, while an unknown girl is standing on the right. Although the room is slightly different, it’s possible that the same set was used for both photos.
As we know, one of the defining features of the Harry Potter films is the series’ iconic set design. In fact, the architectural designs of the sets are often credited as a major contributing factor to the films’ popularity. One of the most recognizable pieces of the sets is the golden snitch, which is a replica of the real thing, found in the game Snitch (also known as “Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans”).
The above images show a scene from the 2018 film The House of Gucci. In the film, we see American fashion designer Michael Gucci (Johnny Depp) attempting to convince his son Alessandro (Justin Timberlake) to invest in his company. During the meeting, the elder Gucci mentions a golden snitch that his mother found near a lake and brought with her to America (shown below).
If we compare the above images to the one from Goblet of Fire, it’s clear that the furniture and interior design are strikingly similar. It’s even possible that the same set was used for both photos. In fact, we know that several pieces of matching furniture and decorative items were used during the making of both films. In light of this information, it’s tempting to suggest that Depp’s character is simply trying to convince his son to invest in his company by mentioning a famous piece of furniture that he found on their first night in America.
FUSION WITH POPCORN
One of the most iconic images from Goblet of Fire is that of the lightning bolt striking the Hogwarts castle (shown above). With the help of his friends, Harry Potter manages to defeat the villainous Lord Voldemort in a fierce fight that lasts for several hours before the magical fire extinguisher runs out of juice. During the climactic battle, Harry throws one last spell, which causes Lord Voldemort’s wand to light up in sparks and explode against his forehead.
Fifty-two years later, we still remember that scene and it’s inspired many artistic endeavors. One of the most interesting cases involves the work of a French designer named Philippe Starck. In 2019, Starck unveiled a new line of wands for Harry Potter fans (shown below). Although the designer admitted that the wands were not directly based on the movie, he did say that they were inspired by Harry Potter. But did he draw the design after watching the film? Or did he do some research and come up with the idea independently? Let’s take a look:
The answer may lie in the fact that, in 1939, Philippe Starck designed a similar piece of furniture. Although it’s not identical, there are enough similarities between the designs to suggest that they are probably based on one another. For example, both pieces have a similar footprint, seating arrangement, and decorative element. Additionally, the arms are positioned in a way that is reminiscent of a “v” for “Victory” (shown below). So it’s very likely that the French designer simply took the opportunity to pay homage to a piece of furniture that he admired.
If we compare the above images to those of Cedric Diggory from Goblet of Fire, it’s clear that the two share enough details to suggest a connection. Additionally, if we compare those same images to those of Harry Potter from the following year (2019’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard), we see that the two stars also have a similar expression. Could this be a coincidence, or does it mean that Robert is, in fact, playing the role of Harry Potter’s nemesis? Let’s take a closer look:
MATCHING MUGS
Matching mugs are a common feature of British pub dining. Essentially, the pub owner will serve you a drink in a container that is similar in shape to the one you will receive when you leave. Mugs like these are ubiquitous in the UK and many pub chains have a set design that they use everywhere. Like many other teens in his situation, Cedric spends most of his time in Goblet of Fire either drinking beer with his friends or pondering the mysteries of the universe. At one point, he even attends a Hogwarts Spectacular that is supposed to be attended by Harry Potter himself. Although they don’t attend the same performance, it’s possible that they both show up for the fireworks display at the end of the evening.
In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that I too have a mug that I use whenever I go to England. And, like Robert, I have a mug that I use whenever I go to Paris (shown below). Although it’s not a perfect match, it’s clear that the creators of both sets of mugs wanted to evoke the same feeling of nostalgia when users lifted their beverages to drink.