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Imagine this: a world where the dark arts aren’t just a tale told by wizards in cloaks. Where the infamous dark lord, Lord Voldemort, isn’t played by Ralph Fiennes, but by someone whose cheekbones could cut glass and whose acting chops could shatter them. That someone is none other than James McAvoy.
And then the world ofHarry Pottercould’ve looked very different. McAvoy, with his impeccable ability to play characters with a lot of shades of gray (both literally and figuratively), once had the chance to don the robes of one of the most infamous villains in literary history. But he turned it down. Yes, the man who’s fought mutants, navigated a fractured mind, and faced ancient gods, said ‘no’ to step into the shoes of the most infamous dark wizard ever.
But why would he turn down such an opportunity? After all, who wouldn’t want to be whisked away to Hogwarts? Let’s take a dive into what could’ve been, and why McAvoy’s decision is still the one we never saw coming.
Why Did James McAvoy Turn Down £40,000 and a Role inHarry Potter?
You know that feeling when you just miss out on a big opportunity and wonder, “What if I’d taken that chance?” We’ve all been there, whether it’s passing on a new job, a relationship, or inJames McAvoy’s case, a role that could have skyrocketed him to fame. We’re talking about the chance to play a young Tom Riddle inHarry Potter. It sounds like a golden ticket to superstardom, but McAvoy didn’t bite.
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When he got the call to audition for a part inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone(which, yes, had Tom Riddle), was still a newcomer, with just a few roles under his belt. It seemed like the perfect gig for a rising star. But as McAvoy recalled, it wasn’t all butterbeer and magic wands. Speaking on theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast, he confessed:
I was nearly in Harry Potter. The very first movie, I think it was. Tom Riddle’s in the first one, right?
But wait, McAvoy didn’t just get an audition. He was offered something bigger. He admitted that when he was just starting out in his career, he had a chance to audition forHarry Potter. At that point, he hadn’t done much work yet, so he was still a relative unknown. However, the producers were interested in him—and a few other actors—to the point where they wanted to“put him on a retainer”. To quote him:
I remember it was right at the beginning of my career. I auditioned for it and I think they wanted to put me on a retainer. I’d hardly done any work and me and I think ten other actors, they wanted to put us on a retainer so that they could hold us and keep us to choose later.
Here’s a list of actors who played the role of Tom Riddle in theHarry Potterseries:
Essentially, they wanted to keep him on standby, which sounded like an easy payday at the time. The actor even mentions that they offered him a handsome sum —“40 thousand pounds or something like that”:
And they offered quite a lot of money. For me at that time, it was a ton of money. It was like 40 thousand pounds or something like that. I’d done very little work and I wouldn’t be able to do any work for about seven months, I think.
For someone early in their career, it was a tempting sum, something that would make most people seriously consider taking the offer. However, the catch was that this offer came with a big commitment: McAvoy would have had to sit out and not work on anything else for about seven months. So, while the money was attractive, he would be tied up for a long period without the ability to take on other acting roles.
Essentially, it was a great financial offer, but it came at the cost of losing valuable time and potential career growth.
How James McAvoy Went fromNarniato Oscar-Worthy Performances?
Though James McAvoy’s name didn’t shine as brightly inHarry Potter, it didn’t take long for the world to take notice. In 2005, he stepped into the magical world ofThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.Playing a faun who befriends Lucy Pevensie, McAvoy gave the character a level of depth that made us all wish we could get lost in Narnia too—just to have a chat with him. It wasn’t just about playing an odd creature; McAvoy brought an authenticity to Tumnus that made him feel like a real person you’d want to grab a coffee with (if fauns drink coffee).
ButNarniawas just the start. McAvoy was ready to show the world that he could juggle roles from whimsical to serious. In 2007, he delivered an Oscar-worthy performance inAtonement, where he played Robbie Turner, a man caught in the gears of an unjust fate. Then, inWanted(2008), he switched gears and showed he could hold his own in an action-packed film.
“I didn’t like how you treated him”: James McAvoy’s Reaction After a Fan Says X-Men: Dark Phoenix is His Worst Movie to His Face is Wholesome to Watch
By 2011, McAvoy had made a name for himself, and that year, he joined the ranks of one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises—X-Men: First Class. His portrayal of a younger Professor X in the prequel was both empathetic and commanding, breathing fresh life into a character made iconic by Patrick Stewart.
AfterFirst Class, McAvoy went on to appear inX-Men: Days of Future PastandX-Men: Apocalypse, proving he wasn’t just another cog in the franchise machine. It was a role that didn’t just pay the bills—it solidified McAvoy as a powerhouse in Hollywood, someone who could switch from genre to genre with ease.
Let’s be real here: turning down aHarry Potterrole for a slew of films likeAtonement,Wanted, andX-Men? Genius move? Sure, we’ll never know how McAvoy would have fared as a young Tom Riddle. Maybe he would’ve been a standout. ButHarry Pottercould have shackled him to one role for years, leaving little room for the range he’s known for now. Looking at his career choices since then, it’s easy to see why McAvoy’s path took him to the characters that pushed him to his limits—characters that kept him unpredictable and engaging.
McAvoy’s journey wasn’t a matter of luck—it was about choosing the right moment to step into the spotlight.
Speak No Evil: James McAvoy’s New Horror Film Is Now Streaming (Certified Fresh at 83% on RT)
Sometimes the greatest horrors are the ones that live inside the people you trust most. If that line sounds like something straight out of a spine-chilling thriller, it’s because it captures the essence of the horror filmSpeak No Evil.
The movie isn’t just about what’s lurking in the shadows or what monsters might be hiding in the dark. No, this film plunges deep into something far more unsettling: the terror of human interaction, the kind that wears a smiling mask while harboring dark secrets.
James McAvoy, with his incredible range, has once again proven his prowess in a genre that demands equal parts tension and subtlety. His portrayal inSpeak No Evil, a psychological horror film, is nothing short of disturbing. With a Certified Fresh rating of 83% onRotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say that McAvoy has entered new territory here, delivering one of his most unnerving performances to date.
What more? The film even performed impressively at the box office, grossing $76 million worldwide against a modest budget of $15 million (The Numbers). This horror flick is a remake of the Danish filmSpeak No Evil, and while it sticks to the original’s bone-chilling premise, it’s not without its share of changes.
The story follows an American family who, in a moment of misplaced trust, accepts an invitation to a seemingly peaceful weekend at the estate of a British family they met on vacation. What should have been a celebration of shared humanity quickly takes a disturbing turn as the hosts’ behavior becomes more erratic, and the lines between politeness and cruelty blur in the most unsettling of ways.
Known for his roles inDoctor Sleep,Split, andIt Chapter Two, McAvoy has honed a knack for portraying characters who aren’t just complex—they’re haunting. And this time, he taps into the primal fear of the things we dare not say but still feel.
Ergo, James McAvoy may not have donned the cloak of Tom Riddle, but he’s certainly cast a spell on audiences with every role he’s chosen. And in the end, isn’t that what really matters? A successful career, is built on choices that define who you are—not just who you play.
Harry Potterfilms are streaming on Max.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3309
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
