![]() Gambon’s melodious tone also seemed to express that side of Dumbledore who speaks in riddles and rhymes. The heavy, thick robes were replaced with neutral-colored robes tied around the waist, together with a tasseled hat instead of the usual pointed one. Even his appearance was gruffer and shabbier than his predecessor’s. The director wanted to shift away from Harris’ version to a more serious and “distracted” Dumbledore - reflecting the gradual change in the overarching themes of the films. It was also when Dumbledore’s presence is felt more throughout, even if he is not on the screen. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Gambon’s first movie in the series, marked a noticeable change in tone. He once stated in an interview that he did not read any of the Harry Potter books to prepare for his role because he felt that would restrict his performance - which can be one of the reasons why he was successfully able to bring his own spin to the character. ![]() Gambon certainly had big shoes to fill, but the stark difference between his and Harris’ portrayal allowed him to make Dumbledore uniquely his own while still staying true to the character. He went on to leave a lasting impression on the viewers, majority of whom still believe to this day that he was undoubtedly the best Dumbledore. When he was originally hospitalized, he had told the director Chris Columbus that he would kill him if he recast the role. Harris tragically passed away after the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was completed. Instead, he was a force of positivity, providing guidance to the central character for whatever awaits him in the future. His childlike wonder and nurturing persona allowed both Harry and the viewers to trust him.Įven though Dumbledore is evidently a complex character, Harris did not hint at the dark secrets that burden him, upon which the fate of the wizarding world depends. Harris managed to do just that with his gentle aura, while still exuding power. The first two Harry Potter films have a much lighter tone in comparison to the later installments, and required Dumbledore to be much warmer to the young students. With his reserved manner, stoic presence, and soft-spoken nature, he brilliantly exemplified the quiet wisdom of the character - to the point that he actually seemed like he was over a hundred years old. It was when his 11-year-old granddaughter Ella changed his mind (by telling him that she will never speak to him again if he refused) that he finally accepted.Īlthough he did not get enough screen time in the movies, making him more of a bystander than a pivotal character, his portrayal of Dumbledore was more faithful to the book version than any other actor’s. Harris had once revealed that, during the casting process for Harry Potter, he had turned down the role of Dumbledore three times as he did not want to commit to an entire series at the age of 71. RELATED: Harry Potter: 7 Things Only Book Readers Know About Dumbledore Richard Harris This, of course, has sparked the inevitable debate among fans: who played Dumbledore best? In the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, Jude Law portrayed a much younger Dumbledore, during the period of his life when is attempting to thwart the ambitious plans of his former friend and the dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald. In the first two movies, he was originally played by the legendary Richard Harris until his death in 2002, after which the distinguished actor Michael Gambon played the role in the remaining six films. As the headmaster of Hogwarts, the humorously eccentric Albus Dumbledore is described as one of the most powerful wizards in the Harry Potter franchise, who often makes difficult sacrifices for the “greater good”. Rowling once revealed that she chose the name ‘Dumbledore’ because it is an Old English word for ‘bumblebee’ and she always imagined him “humming to himself a lot” - which pretty much sums up the entire character.
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