Who Nearly Played Harry Potter?
When the first Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” was released in 2001, it was an instant success. The casting of the young wizard was a critical part of the movie’s success, and it turns out that the role of Harry Potter almost went to a different actor.
In a 2016 HuffPost interview, casting director Janet Hirshensom revealed that only one American actor was tested for the role of Harry Potter: Liam Aiken. Aiken had previously worked with “Sorcerer’s Stone” director Christopher Columbus in 1998’s “Stepmom.”
Aiken was a favorite for the role of Harry Potter, and he had a strong connection to the character. Aiken was born in 1990, the same year that the first Harry Potter book was published. He was also a fan of the books and was familiar with the character.
Despite his connection to the character and his impressive audition, Aiken was ultimately passed over for the role. The part went to Daniel Radcliffe, who was 11 at the time and had never acted before. Radcliffe went on to become one of the most recognizable actors in the world, thanks to his portrayal of Harry Potter.
Liam Aiken, meanwhile, has gone on to have a successful career in Hollywood. He has appeared in films such as “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,” and “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” He has also had roles in television shows such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Mad Men.”
While Liam Aiken didn’t get the role of Harry Potter, he has still had a successful career in Hollywood. He is a reminder that sometimes, even when you don’t get the part you wanted, there are still other opportunities out there.