What do you think about JK Rowling's idea about the whole HP cast being British?

Question

I read in a book that JK wanted the whole HP cast to be British..She didn't want any Americans in the movies. Some younge famous American actor wanted to the part of Harry Potter.

I'm not disagreeing with the idea. I think it's a great idea. I've just heard other people that had a problem with it.

Answer 1

It was the best thing JKR has ever done for three reasons.

1) There is nothing worse in this world than people putting on a fake British dialect. It is very obvious and even accomplished actors like Johnny Depp fail miserably. It would be even worse to hear a child actor awkwardly attempting a British accent.

2) American child actors have so many opportunities to shine. They live in a country which produces so many films, especially family films. The HP films were a great chance for British child actors to shine for a change since it's so hard for them to make it big (although I would like to see Scottish, Irish and Welsh children being offer roles rather than just English kids).

3) JKR has almost revolutionised the film industry. Before she took her stand, it was perfectly acceptable for Hollywood to take British novels and completely Americanise them, losing an essence that was integral to that book. JKR has made it much easier for books set in Britain to be made into films set in Britain.

Answer 2

She IS English.
It takes place in England. It's her work, she has every right to decide to keep the cast exclusively British.
Americans can't do very good English accents. Have you ever noticed that in American films, no matter the time period or the country, if it does not take place in America, the actors adopt horrible English accents.
Troy is a good example.

Answer 3

That is a very well-written and well-thought-out letter. I myself feel exactly the smae way about JK, although I have never written to her in the fear of no response, and the fact that she's so busy, I sometimes think it will be a waste of time. Very well done. =] It took me about a day and a half to read Deathly Hallows. Muhahaha...although it depends on your reading speed. ^^^

Answer 4

Well, considering that the whole series takes place in Britain and everyone in the books and movies are supposed to be British I think that it makes sense.

Answer 5

Well it would be more difficult for a young actor from America to pull off a convincing accent; I'm not saying it isn't POSSIBLE, just that it would take more effort.

She herself is from England, so it would make sense to be partial to where she's from. If I wrote a book, I'd want the actors to be most suited for the movie.

Answer 6

I think it's great. Hogwarts is in Britain and filled with British children so why shouldn't the cast be British. She has to get a few more Scots in though.

Answer 7

Considering the setting for the books it is only natural that the actors be British. I applaud her for sticking to her guns and I'm American.

Answer 8

They are her books and she has the right to cast whoever she wants. If it was an American who wrote a story as such would you expect him/her to go overseas to cast the movie? It would probably be all Americans. Not necessarily but probably.

Answer 9

I see nothing wrong with it. The cast is very talented & of course the movies have made tons of money. She must be doing something right. It's her vision she has a right to allow it to play out as she sees fit.

Answer 10

I can understand that, actually. It's set in England and they've got to have real accents, so unless they can find someone with the uncanny ability to fake a British accent to perfection (there aren't very many teens out there with that ability) by all means, go British.