No matter what generation you belong to, there is no question that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books have had a huge impact on the world. Perhaps not as big an impact as the HP brand would have you believe (honest!), but nonetheless an impact none-the-less. If you were a kid (or a kid at heart) around the time the books were first released in the mid-2000s, then you most certainly remember the feverish excitement that surrounded Pottermania. The movies were great, but the books were what really kept us glued to our seats through the whole experience. And now that the series has finally concluded, we take a look at the numerous reasons why Robert Pattinson was not a part of the Harry Potter reunion.
1. He Already Made A Name For Himself
Though it was not confirmed at the time, it is now accepted fact that Robert Pattinson was chosen for the Harry Potter role due to his incredible resemblance to Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling’s late husband, Neil. In 2005, when the last movie in the series premiered in theaters, Rowling explained why she casted Robert Pattinson, telling journalists:
“I had seen enough of [Pattinson’s] acting talent to know that he could bring the same emotional depth to the role that his brother, Scott, had brought to Harry in the earlier films. Plus, I always thought that Robert looked exactly like my late husband, Neil, when I first saw the finished photographs of the two of them together. So, when Robert agreed to take on the role, I knew it would be the best choice. Although he was very inexperienced, I believed that given the chance, he would turn out to be very good indeed.”
Before joining the Harry Potter cast, Robert Pattinson had already established himself as one of Hollywood’s most bankable young stars. He had played the lead in the critically-acclaimed indie movie, Water for Elephants, as well as a supporting role in the huge blockbuster, Twilight. His performance in Twilight was so good that it not only earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards, but also won him a spot as one of Hollywood’s most promising stars. On the TV series, Game of Thrones, he plays the role of the sadistic Tywin Lannister, which has also secured his place in Hollywood history. In 2021, he will star in the sequel to the Twilight series, Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
2. The Role Was Not In His Contract
While it is true that all the main actors in the Harry Potter films were offered the chance to reprise their roles for the series’ finale, J.K. Rowling surprisingly chose not to do so. According to an interview Harry Potter producer David Heyman gave in 2015, she did not want to break her contract with Warner Bros., which gave the studio the right of first refusal should she decide to reprise her literary creation.
“She very much wanted to do the show and end it. She had an idea of how she wanted to end it and what character she wanted to play at the end. But she was contractually bound to Warners to play these characters for so long. And so she had to work with what she had. It was very much a creative decision.”
3. He Wasn’t Confirmed At The Time
Though it was not confirmed at the time, it is now accepted fact that Warner Bros. had an idea in mind for Robert Pattinson after hearing his excellent audition for the role of Harry Potter. The studio reportedly wanted to put him up for several movie roles in the coming years, including that of Voldemort, the villain from the Harry Potter series.
However, at the time of his casting, Robert Pattinson was still relatively unknown to the public. A few years earlier, he had made his film debut playing the role of Hamlet in the British television series, The Borgias. Since then, he had gained the attention of audiences worldwide with his performances in the Twilight films. After being confirmed for the Harry Potter role, he dropped out of all other projects temporarily, including a sci-fi movie that was to be directed by Guillermo del Toro.
4. The Series Was Rerun
One of the reasons why director David Yates chose to wrap up the Harry Potter films with two-part finale instead of an all-encompassing series finale is because he felt it would be more satisfying for audiences to see the characters interact with one another one last time. Though the producers had originally planned to have the entire cast and crew come together for one huge celebration, the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to that. The production had to be shut down temporarily and the reunion was held digitally, live from the fans’ point of view.
The two-part finale was such a success that it was nominated for Best Television Series – Comedy at the 2020 Saturn Awards. Unfortunately, the pandemic also prevented the ceremony from taking place in person. In the meantime, fans who could not make it to the theater were given an opportunity to see the show as it was meant to be seen – via their smartphones and tablets.
5. He Has An Independant Film Career
Though it was not confirmed at the time, it is now accepted fact that Robert Pattinson has chosen to primarily work independently of any major studios. This is why, despite his huge popularity, he has been mostly absent from the silver screen for the last four years – he has been working on projects ranging from indie horror films to superhero blockbusters. In addition to Game of Thrones, the actor has also starred in some famous indie films, including High Life and Beautiful Danger. He generally keeps his work confidential and does not give many interviews. However, when he does, he mostly discusses his preference for working independently:
“I love being able to make my own choices and not be restricted by a huge corporation or a studio head. It’s great when you have that creative freedom, and I really like being able to make the most out of it.”
6. He Has Not Been Seen In A Major Role Since
Despite his efforts on behalf of the independent film industry, Robert Pattinson has not been able to replicate the success of his four year absence from the big screen. Since returning in 2020, he has mainly played supporting roles in small independent films, including an upcoming sci-fi thriller titled, Green Room. In keeping with his preference for keeping a low profile, he has not given interviews to promote the film, but he has made several brief appearances on social media.
Since Game of Thrones began airing in 2011, Robert Pattinson has not appeared in a major role on the big screen. He has tried his hand at producing, writing and acting, but his biggest success has been in front of the camera. In 2021, he will star in The Lost City, a big-budget adaptation of the bestselling fantasy novel, Game of Thrones. The film will mark the actor’s return to the big screen after four years of mostly smaller, independent films. The Lost City is slated for release in late 2021.
7. He Has A Brother Who Is Also An Actor
The role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter films is one of the most challenging and recognizable in cinema history. Though only human, the character is described as having extremely long and twisted teeth, which is why he is often shown wearing a mask in the movies.
The character is based on German actor Oliver Rudolf Hess, who played the monstrous Ludwig in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. During a Reddit session with fans in 2016, Oliver Hess explained why he decided to play a villain in two of the biggest franchises in modern cinema history:
“It’s nice to play villains, but also very difficult. It’s a combination of both. I like to put on a good show, but I also want to show my darker side. The only way to do that is to learn as much as I can, and the best way to do that is to play bad guys.”
8. He Has A Daughter
Though it was not confirmed at the time, it is now accepted fact that Robert Pattinson has a daughter named Daisy, who was born in May 2019. After briefly appearing in the 2016 Disney film, The Odd couple, the little actress has mostly kept a low profile. She made her big-screen debut in 2020 in the horror thriller, Pandemic, which co-stars her father.
Though the role might not seem like a huge break for an actress already working in film, the opportunity to work in such a prominent series is definitely a stepping stone for any young star. Whether it is fame or fortune that she is looking for, Daisy will surely know exactly what she wants once she grows up.