We could all use a bit more Gary Oldman in our lives, and so could the Harry Potter movies, according to the actor himself. Oldman played Sirius Black, the notorious and titular Prisoner of Azkaban, and godfather to Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). The actor made his Wizarding World debut in Prisoner of Azkaban, and had a small cameo in The Goblet of Fire, before getting a much larger role in The Order of the Phoenix. However, looking back at his time in the Potter-verse, Gary Oldman wishes fans got to see more of Sirius Black on screen across the franchise.
“I love, Sirius,” Gary Oldman told IndieWire at the Emmys. Originally established as a villain with the intent of murdering Harry Potter, Sirius Black later becomes one of Potter’s closest allies and his only remaining family. However, after discovering his godfather, Potter was orphaned once more, as Black met his end at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, and his soul apperated into a mysterious portal. Reflecting on his character’s death, Oldman said:
“He wasn’t in it enough. He turned up and then he went through the veil.”
Gary Oldman Is Critical of His Harry Potter Performance
Looking back at the original Harry Potter movies, the cast that Warner Bros. managed to assemble is simply unbelievable. Alongside Oldman, the Harry Potter films feature a who’s-who of British and Irish acting royalty, including the late Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson, David Tennant, and so, so many more. Everyone involved, from the production designers to the actors themselves, brought their A-games for the series. However, looking back, Gary Oldman hates his performance in the Harry Potter movies.
Gary Oldman described his performance as “mediocre” in the Harry Potter films. The actor revealed that he had never read the books and, upon reflection, wishes he had understood what was going to happen to his character. Oldman compared his performance to that of the late Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape, revealing that Rickman had done a lot more research than he had. The actor said:
“I think my work is mediocre in it. Maybe if I had read the books like Alan, if I had got ahead of the curve, if I had known what’s coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently.”
The Harry Potter fan base is currently divided over the upcoming reboot of the series. HBO has ordered a new adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books, re-telling the iconic story on television. No casting news has been announced yet, as HBO have only recently put out a casting call for the three leading characters. However, Gary Oldman is holding out hope for a potential Harry Potter return, albeit as a new character the second time around. Oldman said:
“I would bet my money that they will get a whole new cast of people. Maybe in a few years, I could do Dumbledore.”
The
Harry Potter
movies are streaming on Max.