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Daniel Redcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint emerged as the iconic faces of the fantasy adventure franchise when they assumed the roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley on-screen. Even years later, it’s difficult to envision the wizarding saga without these beloved actors.
However, there came a time when the studio almost went ahead with recasting fan-favorite Watson, after she almost left the franchise while struggling with the overwhelming fame that accompanied her role in the film series.
Emma Watson Almost LeftHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
During theHarry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartsspecial, filmmaker David Yates, who directed the fifth installment,Order of the Phoenix,in the franchise, recalled howEmma Watsononce contemplated leaving the series.
The actress shared that she felt scared and wanted to step away from the spotlight for a while.“I think I was scared,”she told her co-starRupert Grint. Watson also reflected on how being a part of the franchise seemed like a lifelong commitment.
“It got to a tipping point where you were like, ‘This is kind of forever now,'”she said (viaPeople) before adding,“The fame thing had finally hit home in a big way.”The actress has been very open about her struggles with the enduring nature of fame.
However, she continued portraying Hermione Granger and completed her venture into the wizarding saga with the 2011 filmDeathly Hallows – Part 2.The Bling Ringstar continued her Hollywood journey in the following years starring in multiple movies and a couple of TV shows.
“Is this a money-spinner?”: Emma Watson Was “Not Immediately Impressed” With One WB Decision for Harry Potter Despite a Cool $30M Paycheck
But the 34-year-old actress has kept her distance from the silver screen since the 2019 filmLittle Women,as sheadmittedfeeling “a bit caged”and unhappy while actively working as an actress. However, she remains open to returning to acting when the right opportunity arises.
Harry PotterCast and Crew Reflected on Emma Watson’s Struggles
During the 20th Anniversary special, Emma Watson’s co-stars also reflected on her struggles and the pressure she felt while working as a young star.Daniel Radcliffeacknowledged that such discussions were not very common among them as they were all young and focused on their roles.
“We never talked about it in the film because we were all just kids,”he said.Tom Felton, who portrayed the role of Draco Malfoy in the franchise, also noted,“People definitely forget what she took on and how gracefully she did it.”
“It was fine when I was actually kissing him”: Emma Watson Forced Her Eyes Shut During Her ‘Incest’ Scene in Harry Potter
While commending Watson’s resilience, he highlighted how she faced challenges alone while their fellow actors like Radcliffe and Grint had each other for support. In an earlier interview withThe Hollywood Reporter,producer David Heyman discussed Watson’s commitment to her education while starring in the franchise.
“[She] was very keen in pursuit of schooling and was wrestling a little bit more than the others,”he shared while explaining that they had to renegotiate her contract each time. However, the producer emphasized that he listened to Watson’s needs and respected and praised her intelligence and dedication.
TheHarry Potterfranchise is available to stream on Max.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartsis available on Max.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3448
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
