Whether it's the HBO’s Harry Potter television show, one thing is made clear in the narrative: it’s a story of inner strength, self-discovery, bravery, and sacrifice. The themes present throughout Harry’s entire story are very strong, guiding the plot and characters' decisions at all times. From the very beginning of Harry’s journey, even from birth, he was thrust into a magical world full of threats and dangers much more than he could handle on his own. Throughout the series, continuous threatening situations unfold for Harry over the span of seven books.

Characters surrounding Harry often display many traits that resonate with the story’s themes; this helps them prevail against dark forces like Voldemort. Characters like Harry’s parents, Lily and James Potter, may have minor roles in the series because they had ed before it began, but their actions had a lasting effect on the narrative. However, as powerful as their contributions to Harry’s journey were, the Marauders generation of characters faced some criticism for casting choices. While the Harry Potter actors age over time, Harry’s parents and peers were portrayed much older in the films than they were in the books.

The Harry Potter Movies Made James, Lily, Snape & Others Much Older

Casting Choices For These Actors Have Been Criticized For Years

Harry Potter's Marauders generation played a huge role in guiding the plot of Harry Potter, haunting the narrative long after their time at Hogwarts. These characters, including James, Lily, Remus, Lupin, and Sirius were cast for the film in a way that didn’t accurately depict their ages or the weight of their various sacrifices. The actors playing these 21-year-old characters ranged from 31 to 47, obviously skewing the accuracy of their book descriptions. Likely, older actors were cast for these to look natural next to Harry as he aged, still appearing older than him as he became a teenager.

According to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, James Potter was born on March 27, 1960. Lily Potter was born on January 30, 1960. They were killed by Voldemort on October 31, 1981.

Additionally, casting older characters to play the generation before Harry, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, helps them come across as wiser and more parental in many ways. Instead of portraying an 18-year-old Harry seeking advice from his frozen-in-time 21-year-old parents (when they appear to him), the films chose to cast middle-aged actors to make the age difference feel more tonally realistic on screen. After all, the age difference between parents and children on-screen isn’t usually only a few years. In this unique situation, the casting directors opted for older-looking portrayals of the Marauders in order to seem natural.

How The Harry Potter Characters Being Older Changes Their Stories

The Youth Of These Characters Makes Their Sacrifices Mean More

The Marauders who lived to know Harry during his time at Hogwarts, like Lupin and Sirius, ed for their characters' ages much better than his parents did. It helped that the actors were in their forties, and could for characters in their thirties. However, James and Lily died when they were only 21; their ages are meant to symbolize just how tragic their deaths were and set the plot in motion. Despite their young ages, Harry’s parents showed tremendous amounts of bravery that ended up saving their son’s life.

When flashbacks of James and Lily are shown, the actors are much older than they should be, which makes it look like they died at much older ages than they really did.

In the Harry Potter films, when flashbacks of James and Lily are shown, the actors are much older than they should be, which makes it look like they died at much older ages than they really did. This could dilute the potency of their selfless acts for Harry and bravery against Voldemort as he attacked them in their home. This context about their youthful courage provides a lot of explanation as to where the Chosen One gets his strengths from, but the casting of older actors makes it harder to show how senseless and tragic their deaths were.

Why The Harry Potter Remake Should Aim For More Book-Accurate Castings

More Age-Appropriate Casting Choices For The Marauders Would Be A Positive Change

If HBO's new Harry Potter show casts more age-appropriate actors across the board for the older generation, their stories will be more accurate to the source material and will bring a fresh perspective to the screen. Age-appropriate casting would also really put into perspective just how young Lily, James, and their friends were when they were conspiring against Voldemort. Their youth would also mirror the Golden Trio, and draw symbolic and powerful comparisons between the two groups of dedicated wizards.

By casting actors who are closer in age to the book's characters, a remake can differentiate itself from the original films and appeal to a new set of viewers. For example, instead of trying to replicate Alan Rickman’s iconic Snape performance, a younger actor could bring a different and more book-accurate take on the character’s complexity. Keeping remakes interesting can be difficult, but HBO's Harry Potter series could reinvent and improve itself by making changes like this one.