One of the lesser-discussed changes between the earlyHarry Potterfilms andHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanmight not be super obvious at first, but it did make one character completely different. The Leaky Cauldron, the famous wizarding pub housed inHarry Potter’s Diagon Alley, is known for its iconic atmosphere, and it is highlighted throughout the series as the perfect place for characters to gather. The aura created in settings like the Leaky Cauldron is created over time; with only minutes of screen time, minor characters can set the tone for such a setting.
Smaller characters in films often get recast in a series like this because their cameos are so spread out. It will also inevitably happen inHBO’s upcomingHarry Potterremake. However, whenone minor character from theHarry Potterseries was recast,it made a huge difference; as the saying goes, there are no small parts, only small actors. After the actor who played Tom the Bartender took a step back to focus on lower-profile projects, his recasting set in motion a major change for theHarry Potterseries.
Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban Recast Tom The Bartender
The Two Actors Did Not Have Similar Portrayals Of The Character
The Leaky Cauldron bartender, Tom, was recast in the third film of the franchise.First played by Derek Deadman inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,he was replaced with Jim Tavaréthanks to Deadman’s aforementioned desire to step back from acting. After that, the character changed significantly, and despite Tom being a minor character, the actor swap made a big difference to the tone of the Leaky Cauldron scenes in Harry Potter movies moving forward.
Tom The Bartender Was Like A Completely Different Character After Being Recast
Did This Recasting Really Have An Effect On Movie Scenes?
During his scene as Tom the Bartender, Deadman really just performed a specific function: offering Harry Potter and Hagrid a quiet place during their visit to the Leaky Cauldron. He comes across in a very straight-laced way,portraying a more traditional British barkeep. Deadman’s version of Tom is quite reserved, even ordinary.
When Jim Tavaré took over the role of Tom the bartender inHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he brought more comedy to his portrayalbecause of his deep background in stand-up and various roles in comedy television shows. He brought the character alive in a way that was more appropriate for theHarry Potteruniverse, lending a richness to the role, however minor. Tavaré’s version is far more energetic than Deadman’s. He comes across as quirky, awkward, and eccentric.
In physical appearance, Tavaré’s version was also portrayed as older and balder than his predecessor. He exaggerates his features with a hunched back, almost coming across as cartoonish in his portrayal of the barkeep. While it’s a more pronounced portrayal,it’s far closer to how he was described in the originalHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonebook: “The barkeep was a toothless old man who looked like a gummy walnut.”
Originally a narrative for young readers, the cartoonish and other-worldly portrayal by Jim Tavaré fit with the setting better and made the Leaky Cauldron are more unique setting in theHarry Pottermovies.
The sudden switch between Tom the Bartender in this seriesactually did a lot forHarry Potter.Originally a narrative for young readers, the cartoonish and other-worldly portrayal by Jim Tavaré fit with the setting better and made the Leaky Cauldron are more unique setting in theHarry Pottermovies. Tavaré’s version of Tom was much more off-kilter which made it far more interestingthan it originally was, showing that even small roles can be quirky if done right.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
