Harry Potter's Remake Must Bring Back Peeves, But It Will Never Beat The Original Casting

The Harry Potter remake is the perfect opportunity to finally include Peeves the Poltergeist in a screen adaptation. Still, casting will be tricky considering the icon that was previously meant to take on the role. HBO has promised a book-faithful adaptation in its reboot of the massively popular series, with an entire season dedicated to each of J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World books. This means many of the characters that the Warner Bros movies had cut can be restored to their place in Harry Potter's story, with Hogwarts' resident poltergeist among the most anticipated. Still, the reboot will have a tough job regarding casting.

Peeves the poltergeist was a consistent presence at Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter books, often causing trouble for Harry and his friends whenever they were up to mischief around the castle. He added an extra layer of comedy to many scenes, causing the rambunctious character to be a common favorite among fans. Unfortunately, Peeves never made it to the screen in any of the Harry Potter movies, despite Rik Mayall having been initially cast for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Of course, the Warner Bros movies managed to be a massive success without him, but the Harry Potter reboot won't get away with making a similar cut.

Why The Harry Potter TV Remake Must Include Peeves

Peeves being left out of the Harry Potter movies was a significant disappointment for many book fans. Though he was never a central part of the plot, the poltergeist was part of the flavor of the magical and mysterious Hogwarts Castle. Peeves' banter with the school's staff, like Argus Filch and Minerva McGonagall, was a central part of the comedic relief of the Harry Potter series, and, as a plot device, he both hindered and helped Harry during his nights roaming the castle. As Harry grew, he (and readers along with him) began to understand the best ways to deal with Peeves, demonstrating how the Boy Who Lived was assimilating into the wizarding world.

Peeves has appeared in Harry Potter video games like Hogwarts Legacy.

Now that HBO's Harry Potter remake has promised to be far more faithful to the books than the movies, there can be no question about returning Peeves to his rightful place at Hogwarts. In fact, if the reboot series once again pushes Peeves to the side, it would immediately prove to audiences that the Harry Potter TV show is likely to make just as many cuts and significant changes as the movies. It would mean alienating an audience as soon as season 1 and could potentially reduce the number of people willing to tune in for subsequent seasons.

Harry Potter's Remake Will Struggle To Beat Rik Mayall's Movie Casting

There's no question that Peeves should be included in the Harry Potter TV reboot, but recasting the actor initially intended for the role is a different story. Despite the character being entirely absent from the Harry Potter movies, English comedy icon Rik Mayall was originally intended to play Peeves in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Credited as the pioneer of alternative comedy in the 1980s, Mayall is known for his roles in films like Drop Dead Fred and Guest House Paradiso, as well as series like Blackadder and The Comic Strip Presents…. He was uniquely qualified for a role like Peeves, but after filming, all of Mayall's scenes were cut from Sorcerer's Stone.

In a perfect world, Mayall would return to get another chance at playing Peeves. Unfortunately, the legend unexpectedly passed away in 2014, so the poltergeist will need to be recast for the Harry Potter TV reboot. Between Mayall being a perfect fit for Peeves and the tragedy of his passing, it will be tough to fill his shoes with another performer. This is especially true considering the lingering bitterness regarding Mayall's cut Sorcerer's Stone scenes, which have never before been seen by the public.

Why Rik Mayall's Peeves Was Cut From The Harry Potter Movies

It's never been entirely clear why Mayall's portrayal of Peeves was cut from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In an interview (via YouTube), Mayall stated that he hadn't known that his scenes were cut from the film until he watched it for the first time, and he was never given a reason. The comedian did mention, however, that his comedic behavior on set often caused the child stars to lose focus and break character. Therefore, it could be that the scenes that included Mayall as Peeves simply weren't usable.

This idea was reinforced by Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom throughout the Harry Potter movies. The actor stated during a panel with Fan Expo that Mayall was just "too funny" and that rather than being afraid of him as all the new Hogwarts students were supposed to be, Lewis and his costars couldn't stop laughing during his scenes. Since the new batch of stars will be just as young in the Harry Potter remake's first season, this is likely to be as much an issue for HBO (assuming they cast an actor as funny as Mayall to play Peeves).

Who Could Play Peeves In Harry Potter's Remake?

Even though Mayall's scenes never made it into the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone movie and have somehow managed to avoid being leaked to the public, it isn't easy to imagine anyone else filling the role. He was the perfect British comedian to take on Peeves, but since Mayall isn't an option for the Harry Potter TV reboot, HBO must at least take inspiration from the previous casting in finding someone to replace him. A British comedian, or else an actor very familiar with over-the-top comedic roles, would be a must for Peeves in the new series.

Of course, this doesn't narrow it down much. Peeves could realistically be played by an actor of any age, but since the Harry Potter reboot will take several years to make and is planned to air for at least ten years, it would need to be someone who intends to stay in the acting game for years to come. Welsh actor Michael Sheen (Good Omens) could be a phenomenal casting choice. Or, perhaps Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings) could bring his skill for voices to the role. Regardless of who is chosen, the role of Peeves in the Harry Potter reboot series deserves the attention of a masterful actor to finally bring him to the screen.

Source :screenrant