Bertie Carvel, the actor cast as Cornelius Fudge in theHarry Potterremake is already weighing in on whether he’ll come back for season 2 of the HBO Max series. Though he’s primarily known as a stage actor, Carvel has appeared in several TV series, includingThe Crown. However, portraying the32nd Minister for Magicis shaping up to be Carvel’s biggest small-screen project.
Speaking toThe Times, Carvel revealed that he was very impressed by the scripts, and that he had only read theHarry Potterbooks after being cast as Fudge. He still recognizes the devout fandom for the wizarding world franchise, withCarvel insisting that his return for season 2 is entirely dependent on what the fans think of his character. Read his full comment below:
I don’t know how it’s going to fit into my life. I’ve read one script, which I loved, and I’ve read the books. I hadn’t before I got the role. I think I saw one of the films, maybe two. As a boy if I had read these books I would have devoured them. So I am coming at it with a really open mind. Whether I come back [after the first series] probably depends on what the fans think. I mean, I’ll be furious if it’s not an amazing part.
What The Cornelius Fudge Actor’s Comments Mean For The Harry Potter Remake
The Pressure Is On For The HBO Max Series To Deliver
Carvel placing a premium on fans' opinions is entirely reasonable given thattheHarry Potterremake series has been held up to scrutiny since it was announced. This has only amped up since casting announcements have been coming in in droves. But Carvel is in good company. A fantastic actor himself, he’ll be co-starring with great talents likeJohn Lithgow as Dumbledore.
Though not every series on the streamer is a hit,HBO Max doesn’t do any project halfway. They’ll undoubtedly go all out for theHarry Pottershow, and Carvel will likely have nothing to worry about.
But on the other hand, while HBO Max can cast as many talented actors as they want,the show’s success is ultimately up to the fans— and Carvel will have his finger on the pulse.
Our Take On Bertie Carvel As Cornelius Fudge
The Tony-Winning Actor Has Experience Playing Politicians
Though Carvel is much younger than the actor who played Cornelius Fudge in theHarry Potterfilms — Robert Hardy was 77 when he first assumed the role, while Carvel is 47 — all signs point to him doing a bang-up job.
Firstly,Carvel has a ton of experience playing politicians. In addition to his stint as Tony Blair inThe Crown, he portrayed Donald Trump in a 2022 play calledThe 47th.Cornelius Fudge is aHarry Pottercharacterwho presents himself as a kind-hearted man of the people, though his prejudice toward pure-bloods becomes increasingly apparent. Carvel has what it takes.
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Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Rupert Murdoch
The actor’s stage career also shows his incredible range. Carvel has won two Laurence Olivier Awards for playing Miss Trunchbull inMatildaand Rupert Murdoch inInk, the latter of which he also won a Tony for. With a résumé like Carvel’s, HBO Max surely knows they struck gold with casting him. Let’s hope fans feel the same way, and Carvel sticks around forHarry Potterseason 2.
Harry Potter
Cast
Harry Potter is HBO’s remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling’s popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.
