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'Harry Potter' Film Franchise Almost Had Robin Williams As Hagrid But Was Turned Down For J.K. Rowling's First Choice

By Belle Sebastian | Update Date: Jan 03, 2017 07:09 PM EST

Robin Williams has already blessed the world with several memorable characters including a grown-up Peter Pan in "Hook" and a wise-cracking genie in "Aladdin". However, it has recently been revealed that the late comedian almost played the half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" film franchise.

So what exactly stopped Robin Williams from playing Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" movies? It turns out that the "Jumanji" star was turned down by producers because of a strange casting rule that prevented certain people from being in the films. In addition to that, author J.K. Rowling already had her eye on one particular actor.

"Harry Potter" casting director Janet Hirshenson has recently revealed why Daniel Radcliffe won the coveted role back when he was just 11 years old. As it turns out, Hirshenson almost had the chance to bring in Robin Williams to play Hagrid for the Warner Bros. movie franchise. After all, the actor had actually reached out to "Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone" director Chris Columbus in hopes to land the part of the Hogwarts groundskeeper.

Unfortunately, Janet Hirshenson admitted that Robin Williams was not considered for the role due to the producers' strict rule of casting British actors only. Instead, Hagrid was played by Robbie Coltrane, who was always "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling's first choice for the part.

Robin Williams was understandably disappointed with being turned down as Hagrid. In an old interview, the "Mrs. Doubtfire" star touched upon the sore subject, stating that he was interested in an unnamed role that he didn't get due to "a ban on American actors." Williams did not confirm which movie he was referring to, but there is little doubt that he was talking about the "Harry Potter" film franchise.

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