A celebrated author of “Travel With Trolls” and “Gadding With Ghouls,” an Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, for goodness sake’s, a FIVE TIME winner of “Witch Weekly’s” Most Charming Smile Award - Gilderoy Lockhart is one heck of a wizard (Just ask him). But if Kenneth Branagh had his way, he’d be one thing more…
“Harry’s dad!” the actor joked, laughing about his experience reading the seventh novel while hoping for big things from his character so that he could return to the series. “I think everybody who had even been in one [of the movies] was keeping their fingers crossed when that seventh book came out. Am I Harry’s dad? Could I be Harry’s dad?!? I felt like writing a note to JK to say, ‘Have you ever considered this as a plotline?’”
Of course, for all we know Lockhart is still roaming the halls of St. Mungo’s, practicing his autograph and chatting with the Longbottoms - exactly where he was last time we saw him in “Order of the Phoenix.” For his part, Branagh expressed disappointment that filmmakers didn’t keep that sub-plot in the movie.
“It would have been nice to have been in [Phoenix]. He was quite a popular character, Lockhart. There was no one quite like him,” Branagh said. “[But they never called] to my deep disappointment.”
Not that Lockhart would remember it anyway, his mind a total blank after a memory charmed that backfired. Branagh, though, remembers a time when he was almost much more involved with the series than even Gilderoy could ever aspire to be.
“I was in the running to direct the one that Alfonso Cuaron did [”Prisoner of Azkaban”]. It was while I was working on the second one,” he revealed. “They all felt for a minute, maybe it’d be great if Ken did one. It didn’t work out. It would have been interesting.
“I think there is a limit to what a director can bring to the films for reasons I’m sure you can imagine,” he continued. “[But] The thing that really drew my interest was working with those kids. I liked them very much. I thought perhaps that their potential hadn’t yet been realized, or at least I felt they were hungry and were about make huge strides as actors.”
So would he still like to direct “Deathly Hallows,” maybe throw his hat into a discussion which already includes Guillermo del Toro among others?
“I think they’ve now just got such a great bunch in the stable between Newell, Cuaron, Yates, and Columbus that they’ll probably choose from the ones that have already done one,” he said, squashing any chance he’ll come back. “[And they’ll] do very nicely indeed.”
Branagh talking about Lockhart got me thinking: What character were you most disappointed to not see in the movies? Lockhart? Winky? The Longbottoms? Someone else? Sound off below.
November 19th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Bill Weasley for sure! He’s one of my favourite characters, but hopefully he’ll be in HBP.
November 19th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
The Longbottoms would have been a great addition as it would have added the Magical Hospital set. That scene really fleshes out Neville’s character. Plus, we would have met Neville’s Grandma! She is a fabulous character.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Ludo Bagman and Marietta Edgecombe definitely. I was sad when I realized Ludo wasn’t in the fourth movie, and kind of mad that Marietta wasn’t able to snitch in the fifth. I also would’ve liked for them to introduce Pigwidgeon, show the hospital scenes in OotP, and do more than bring Bill and Charlie Weasley in through cameos.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I was disappointed not to see Bill. He’s my favorite character, and hopefully they make him look right! It’s going to be interesting, because he’ll have to be in the movies eventually, unless they change the ending!
November 19th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Neville’s grandmother, definitely! I think it would have been quite complicated to throw his parents in the mix, especially since for people who don’t follow the books, the Longbottoms are only introduced in the fifth. I would have loved to compare who looked better in a vulture-crowned hat: Snape or Neville’s grandma!?!
November 19th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
I think Bill and Charlie Weasley really needed to have showed up in the 4th movie. And i didn’t like how the Weasley’s and Harry were in a different spot than the rest of the Ministry officials. Ludo Bagman should’ve been in it, and they should’ve shown more with him ripping off Fred and George and Harry giving his money to them so they can really start their joke shop. And i think the ending of the 5th movie could have been a little closer to the book. I think the stuff that happened at the ministry could’ve been better too. They also did opposite hands with Harry’s “I must not tell lies” scar. And i think they did an excellent job with the Possession scene.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I think that they should’ve explained a little bit more in the Prisoner of Azkaban at the end with the whole Sirius-coming-clean scene. I also think they should’ve played off the whole Crouch being gone and Percy showing up. They really should’ve focused on Percy’s disownment of his family, cause that all comes together in the end, as well as in the 6th book when he and Scrimegour show up. I hope they get more stuff right. Cause these movies will suck without some minor things.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:42 am
Augusta Longbottom, definately! I really hope they’ll bring her in DH, preferably Judy Dench playing her!
November 20th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
They Should have focused on the prophocy.
It Should have been a longer scene and showed Harry’s Anger And Dumbledore crying.They Showed no emotion. It Was As If They Just Threw That Scene In.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:58 am
They missed out loads of great characters like Bill, Augusta and Ludo and in the 5th Harry, Ron and Hermione’s friendship didn’t seem believable. They also missed out Quidditch!!!! But Luna and Bellatrix were great. Hopefully they won’t miss out too many important scenes this time.
November 24th, 2007 at 2:26 am
I hated that they didn’t emphasize more on the part with Harry and Dumbledore in his office at the end of 5. Harry did not look justified in yelling or anything, if I can remember clearly he didn’t even yell at all! I also think Bill should have been in it, and Charlie too!
November 25th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I was disappointed when I saw hp6 because I though that fleur and bill would show up. In addition to that nobody knows what’s happening between fleur and bill and the whole marriage thing it won’t be clear at all in the film of hp6, *I don’t even think that bill weasley existed in last 5movies*.plus a lot of details which were very important wasn’t mentioned in hp5 like when Harry was thinking about Ginny. This idea will be like a shock for the people who didn’t read hp6and5 and the fact that Harry doesn’t love Cho Chang any more, as well.