Harry Potter Why Dudley Was Almost Recast After Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter: Why Dudley Was Almost Recast After Order of the Phoenix

Harry Melling portrayed Dudley Dursely since 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone but the role was almost recast a few films later.

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Harry Potter Why Dudley Was Almost Recast After Order of the Phoenix

The character of Dudley Dursley was nearly recast in the Harry Potter film series due to a dramatic change with the actor. Harry Melling portrayed the spoiled cousin of the central character starting in 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first film in the franchise. Melling reprised his role for four more movies but that almost wasn’t the case ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.

Sorcerer’s Stone was not only Melling’s feature film debut but it was also his first professional acting gig. Only 12-year-old when the movie debuted, Melling seemed to capture Dudley’s physicality and demeanor from the novels in which the film was based. Dudley was the only child of Vernon and Petunia Dursley. The Muggles became the guardians of their nephew, Harry Potter, after the death of the boy’s parents at the hands of Dark Wizard, Lord Voldemort. Despite ignoring the fact that Harry was a wizard, the Dursleys were forced to come to terms with their connection to the wizarding world.

Since Harry often stayed with the extended family when not at Hogwarts, the Dursleys were present in multiple Harry Potter installments. For the most part, Dudley was a thorn in Harry’s side. He either picked on his cousin or ignored his existence completely. It wasn’t until Harry saved Dursley from Dementors in Harry Potter in the Order of the Phoenix did their relationship get on better terms. Melling made one more appearance in Deathly Hallows – Part 1. In that three-year gap, the actor lost a considerable amount of weight and was nearly unrecognizable. With his transformation, there were discussions to recast Dudley since Melling looked so different. In the end, Melling reprised his role but he was forced to spend more time with production.

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To resemble Dudley more closely, Melling had to wear a padded suit and a special face prosthetic for his final Harry Potter appearance. The “fat suit” as it’s commonly called, hid Melling’s dramatic weight loss and better matched the continuity of the series when it came to Dudley’s arc. Though the actor went through a drastic transformation, it was his role to conclude in the franchise. Recasting might have been an option but it was easier to alter the appearance of the actor who portrayed Dudley from the start.

Melling’s weight loss became symbolic of a fresh beginning for his acting career around the time Deathly Hallows – Part 1 was released. By shedding the weight, Melling was also letting go of the character he played for so many years. Being grateful for the opportunity in the Harry Potter franchise didn’t change the fact that he was ready to move on to other gigs. His physical changes helped to propel that new chapter in his career. Melling went on to star in the TV series, Merlin, in 2010 before acquiring roles in The Lost City of Z, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and The Keeper in addition to theatre work. After recently appearing in His Dark Materials and The War of the Worlds, Melling can now be seen in Netflix’s The Old Guard.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/harry-potter-dudley-recast-order-phoenix-why/

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