Star Turned Down ‘Harry Potter’ Role So They Wouldn’t Become ‘Too Famous’

Michael Cera recently revealed he turned down a potential role in the “Fantastic Beasts” film series because he was worried about becoming too famous. The “Scott Pilgrim” and “Superbad” actor made the surprising admission during an appearance on Louis Theroux’s podcast, as he explained his careful approach to managing his public profile.

The Wizarding World casting directors wanted Cera for what would have been a major multi-year commitment. However, the actor chose to step back before talks even began, prioritizing his personal comfort over what could have been a career-defining opportunity.

“I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because I think it would be like probably six years commitment or something,” Cera shared on the podcast. “But also, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it.”

The Fear of Too Much Fame

Cera’s decision stemmed from genuine worries about the level of celebrity that accompanies major franchise roles. His concerns focused especially on projects aimed at younger audiences, which tend to create more intense fan followings and public attention.

“And I felt like doing, especially little kids’ movies, I had a big fear of doing things that I would get too famous,” the actor explained to Theroux.

While the specific role remains unknown, fans online speculate that producers might have considered Cera for either the lead character, Newt Scamander, eventually played by Eddie Redmayne, or the supporting role of Jacob Kowalski, the American Muggle who becomes Newt’s friend. Both characters would have required significant screen time across multiple films.

The “Fantastic Beasts” series, which served as a prequel to the original “Harry Potter” films, was initially planned as a five-movie franchise. However, after three releases, Warner Bros. appears to have put the series on hold indefinitely, with both Redmayne and Jude Law saying they likely won’t return to their roles.

A Different View on Big Franchises

Years later, Cera’s attitude toward major film commitments has changed considerably. The actor now says he’s open to joining large-scale productions, suggesting his earlier fears have faded with time and experience.

“I think I’ve outgrown that particular feeling, but I think that’s what that was at that time,” Cera told Theroux. “But if a franchise came along now and seemed interesting, I don’t think on the grounds of it being a franchise I would storm out of the office or anything.”

Warner Bros. has since shifted focus to remaking the original “Harry Potter” books as a big-budget HBO TV series, with numerous actors already cast, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Hagrid.