Recasting Dumbledore: Harry Potter's Iconic Wizard and the Actors Who Played Him

Harry Potter, one of the most popular stories for a generation.

Recasting Dumbledore In The Harry Potter Films

We are given this grand, fascinating world where the adventures of a young wizard never fail to surprise us. As a whole, the story has such great character depth.

However, in the Harry Potter movie franchise, there was an incredibly iconic role that was filled by multiple actors!

It's the one and only Dumbledore, a wizard who guided the hero Harry Potter.
In the original two films: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001), and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). It was brought to life by Richard Harris.
However, for those that are unaware of his passing, he sadly passed away and as it turned out there were quite a few, and unexpected, events that occurred that caused a dramatic switch!

We were treated to six additional films and another amazing actor took the role. "Michael Gambon." . He played the role in the final six Harry Potter films.

The franchise really brought together a set of talented stars! As we make our way into "Fantastic Beasts" (an extension of the Harry Potter series), a new face took the lead role. It is a familiar character but younger. We got "Jude Law."

While this all was truly amazing it looked like it couldn't happen! It turns out that Richard Harris, who is a legendary actor in Hollywood history! He made Dumbledore such an iconic figure and helped create an incredible film series.

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A Brief History With Dumbledore

a composite image of Harry Potter looking sternly at the camera in front of Voldemort flicking his wand and Ron and Hermione looking determined from Harry Potter Image

Patrick McGoohan
Sean Connery

These were two actors who could have taken the iconic role.

It was Richard Harris who became the favorite to fill the role!

You can really understand why his iconic look as a magical man helped solidify his reputation! You've got to be one talented performer to really pull that off.

But as you might know, things change and in Harris's world, he even hesitated before taking the role. His concerns stemmed from health but his granddaughter made it all worth it.

It looks like everything was on track, and those who had a chance to see Harris as Dumbledore in these films got an unforgettable performance.

Sadly, Harris began to have some major health issues just before "Chamber of Secrets." He had been in the hospital for a time. Even then he wanted to continue with the Harry Potter series as it was truly inspiring for him.

His wish to play the role to its full end, didn't quite come through. Harris was battling a condition called "Hodgkin's Lymphoma." and as a talented and well-loved actor passed away!

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Recasting The Role And Dumbledore's Lasting Legacy

The story of Dumbledore will live on, and everyone who was in these stories will get to keep this special memory! This meant the producers needed a new actor and made a big commitment to find the perfect actor for the role, so they would have them through the rest of the series. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was coming out.

This was no easy task!

Christopher Lee, a fantastic choice for a few reasons! It turned out he was booked and couldn't take on this new character.
Ian McKellen, known for his great work on The Lord of the Rings, also couldn't fulfill the role. The big reason for that? McKellan really was close to Richard Harris, so it wouldn't have been comfortable to take his place!

But ultimately, it is an inspiring story! The movie series producers went through many of the industry's top performers in a serious search! What they found was another iconic talent "Michael Gambon!" who gave fans of the film another amazing and impressive Dumbledore! And if you are watching these movies it's easy to see how he stepped into this huge and unforgettable role.

If anything, he is known for a Dumbledore that felt incredibly human with lots of faults and flaws! There were moments where fans could see that Dumbledore was a wizard who needed to really handle all sorts of weight as he fought against the forces of evil! In fact, the whole arc for the final series really highlighted those complexities. This performance is something that is incredibly iconic and one that audiences who follow these "Harry Potter" stories will never forget.

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Dumbledore Actors

Here is a recap of those who played this epic character and it also shows how well-known and recognizable this film series became! It was certainly a big undertaking to get everything in order. And each actor was capable of bringing a sense of charm and power!

Richard Harris
Michael Gambon
Jude Law

They are some of the top performers in the world and we had a chance to experience all the joy of this incredible world of magic.

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Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Series

Fans get a different feel as "Fantastic Beasts" moves forward to show just how special the magic and world are! It's an expansive franchise, and while it may be moving towards an unexpected direction! This special part of the series has a different time frame that puts Dumbledore as a young man, and with the right actor who has this youthful vibe we get a new Dumbledore, that has everyone feeling so happy to see what will happen to this series.

It seems we can say that "Dumbledore" has found his niche in the hearts of audiences and is also something J.K. Rowling continues to expand upon in new novels, movies and the world's most epic theme park adventures.

The impact of Dumbledore will continue to shine brightly in our world and he will be something to celebrate for fans around the world! As for whether another movie will ever surface! That will only come about if the stars align, as more Movies and new stories unfold!