Wiekes weetjes: 10 dingen die je nog niet wist over Harry Potter

This week the rumors were confirmed: Harry Potter is being transformed into a series. Fans have quite mixed feelings about it, especially since author J.K. Rowling is involved. Now, I’m not exactly her biggest fan since her transphobic tweets, but I still love Harry Potter. The books remain so magical, although I didn’t feel that all the films gave me that feeling. I see it as a second chance to truly honor the books. Because it’s a series (they want to make a season for each book), they can include a lot more. So yes, I am optimistic, but also on my guard.

Anyway: Harry Potter holds a special place in many hearts. It’s high time to go over some fun facts that you probably didn’t know.

1. Tom Riddle (or Marten Vilijn Jr.) has a different name in every language
That makes sense, because I am Voldemort is of course English. Seems like quite a task for the translators, by the way. In Dutch, it became Marten Vilijn Jr., and in French Tom Elvis Jesdur: je suis Voldemort.

2. J.K. Rowling was offered the role of Lily Potter
She declined it because she claimed she wasn’t a good actress. And probably for the best, I think, because that might have been a bit too distracting.

3. Nicolas Flamel is the only character that really existed
He sold manuscripts, and after his death (in the seventeenth century), rumors circulated that he had found the Philosopher's Stone and thus had become immortal.

4. Michael Jackson wanted to make a musical of Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling told this to Oprah Winfrey in 2010. Even worse: she rejected the offer. Yep, J.K. Rowling said ‘no’ to The King of Pop. She has clearly changed her mind since then, because from 2016 to the present, the musical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been available.

5. Eddie Redmayne auditioned for the role of Tom Riddle
I actually thought he would have been a good match, although I think Frank Dillane (who ultimately got the role) looks a bit meaner. If you had read the books, you already knew this plot twist (that he was actually Voldemort), but that mean look probably wouldn’t have made it a huge surprise.

6. J.K. Rowling sees herself in Hufflepuff
I would have pegged her more as a Ravenclaw, but well, she probably knows better. Where am I? Gryffindor. Duh.

7. Hedwig was played by seven different owls
None of those owls were named Hedwig (that would have been quite a coincidence), but Swoops, Oh Oh (love that name), Elmo, Bandit, Oops, Gizmo, and Kasper.

8. There is one question that J.K. Rowling was always very afraid of
And that was the question what Dumbledore's wand was made of. It was made of elder tree, or an elderberry tree. This tree symbolizes death in folklore, and thus she might have inadvertently revealed that Dumbledore would eventually die.

9. At the last minute, J.K. Rowling changed a few names
The names were initially Hermione Puckle instead of Granger, Draco Spinks instead of Malfoy, Neville Puff instead of Longbottom, and Lily Moon eventually became Luna Lovegood.

10. The films looked almost completely different
Steven Spielberg was supposed to direct the films first, and he wanted to cast Haley Joel Osment as Harry Potter. Ouch, that would have been quite a change... ‘Fortunately,’ J.K. Rowling had a falling out with him and that whole thing didn’t happen.

The last time I went to the cinema, I seriously can't even remember. Anyway, before corona, but when, which movie, where? No. Idea. Since corona, I also keep all movie nights just at home…