Bertie Carvel would have turned down the role of Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter TV reboot if he was offered it years ago.
The Crown actor, 47, is known for playing Tony Blair in The Crown, Galgliesh in the detective drama of the same name, and as Simon Foster in BBC thriller series Doctor Foster.
He’s also taken a spin as Donald Trump in Mike Bartlett’s play The 47th, Nick Clegg in Coalition, and he’s set to portray Prince Baelor ‘Breakspear’ Targaryen in a Game of Thrones spin off next year.
While his past roles have chopped and changed between politicians and detectives, Bertie admits he would have ‘run a million miles’ from the Harry Potter TV reboot if it was offered to him in his younger years.
‘I would have run a million miles from a project like that. I’ve been more interested in variety, in not doing the same thing twice. But I’m a bit older now. I’ve got a bit less wanderlust, I’m happier to stay still,’ he told The Times in a recent interview.
With filming at the Warner Bros. studio in Watford set to kick off this summer, it will be an easy 40 minute commute for Bertie, who lives in north London with his wife, the actress Sally Scott, and their five-year-old son.
Bertie will be portraying Cornelius Fudge – the bumbling and infuriating Minister for Magic, who was famously played by Robert Hardy in the Harry Potter films.
While he ‘loved’ the one script he’s read, Bertie hadn’t read the books before getting the role – and he’d only seen one or two of the films.
‘I am coming at it with a really open mind,’ he said. ‘Whether I come back [after the first series] probably depends on what the fans think. I mean, I’ll be furious if it’s not an amazing part.’
The role isn’t without controversy, given Harry Potter creator – and the new HBO series’ executive producer – JK Rowling’s comments about the trans community.
Other confirmed cast members include Bertie’s The Crown co-star John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, I May Destroy You’s Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonnagal, How Fuzz star Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Lovesick’s Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy and The IT Crowd’s Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.
Harry’s uncaring Dursley family members Aunt Petunia and Vernon Dursley will be played by Masters of the Air’s Bel Powey and Daniel Rigby.
The main trio have been cast with newcomers Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron, stepping into the shoes of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
Meanwhile, Tom Felton has announced his return to the Harry Potter universe, as he will reprise the role of Draco Malfoy, but this time in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
On the controversy surrounding JK Rowling, Tom told Variety: ‘I’m not really that attuned to it…
‘I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.’
Other actors have spoken out against the TV reboot due to JK Rowling’s stance on trans rights.
On Instagram, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan said Rowling’s reaction to the Supreme Court ruling on gender was a ‘new low’ for the author, adding: ‘Keep your new Harry Potter, lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10ft pole.
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