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HBO's adaptation of the Harry Potter novels is one of the most eagerly-awaited projects of the last decade, and given how much room there is to cover, fans are already speculating as to what we'll see and how we'll see it. For example, will we see things outside of Harry's perspective? Will we go to new locations? And will we see how the most important man in the Wizarding World ends up being a complete coward?
Bertie Carvel, who will play Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge in the new Harry Potter series, has teased a more psychologically complicated version of the character. Although Carvel has not yet received his scripts, he believes Fudge’s authority will be undercut by his own insecurity.
“I think that’s probably true of Fudge as well, but it just takes a very different trajectory,” Carvel told ScreenRant. “In a funny kind of way, Fudge is not very high status. He occupies a position of power in the Wizarding World, but the extent to which he feels secure in his status is questionable. That’s the canvas on which I’m working.”
Cornelius Fudge Will Appear Earlier Than He Does in the Books
The HBO series is already changing Fudge’s story by introducing him during Season 1, which adapts Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In the books, Fudge does not appear directly until Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but Carvel said he is particularly interested in how the series will portray a political leader responding to a growing threat.
“To be honest, I’m waiting to see how these writers treat that story. I’ve obviously read the books, and I know what interests me in terms of a trajectory. I feel, again, that it’s highly relevant. A story about a darkening world, where the threat level feels like it’s accelerating. How do our leaders respond? Do they respond with moral courage? How do they respond to their own terror of what might be coming? That feels quite urgent, but until I see the scripts, I don’t quite know what the spin on the ball is going to be. But I’m interested in it, and I think there’s a lot to be explored.”
Carvel also connected Fudge to the powerful figures he has portrayed throughout his career.
“I’ve played a lot of high-status characters, I suppose you might say,” Carvel explained. “Blair, Murdoch, Trump, Nick Clegg — though I’m not sure he was particularly high status in that story. Agatha Trunchbull! Lots of characters I’ve played have a relationship to status.”
He continued, “Apart from the fact that they’re often delicious parts to play, with status comes consequence, and that’s usually quite dramatic. If you have power as a character, you usually bear on the story in some way. I’m interested in the relationship between power and conscience.”
Carvel joins Dominic McLaughlin (Grow) as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton (Matilda the Musical) as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow (Conclave) as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) as Hagrid, Janet McTeer (Ozark) as Professor McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) as Severus Snape.
Harry Potter premieres December 25 on HBO. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
