21 August, 2000

Harry Potter cast at last

The long search for the perfect actor to play the part of Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came to an end today. The role goes to 11 year old Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe has appeared in the lead in the BBC's David Copperfield and in The Tailor of Panama, which will appear later this year. Joining him in the cast will be ten year old Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and eleven year old Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley. They are Harry's friends at the Hogwarts School of magic.

"We saw so many enormously talented kids in the search for Harry," says director Chris Columbus. "The process was intense and there were times when we felt we would never find an individual who embodied the complex spirit and depth of Harry Potter. Then, Dan walked into the room and we all knew we had found Harry. We were equally elated upon meeting Emma and Rupert who are perfect for the roles of Hermione and Ron. I couldn't be happier to begin work with such talented, inspiring young actors."

"Having seen Dan Radcliffe screen test, I don't think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry," J.K. Rowling said on the Harry Potter website. "I wish Dan, Emma and Rupert the very best of luck and I hope that they have as much fun acting the first year at Hogwarts as I had writing it."

On Thursday it had been announced by Ain't It Cool News that Gabriel Thomson was going to get the part. Today site operator Harry Knowles claimed he had been misled by an anonymous scooper while simultaneously hearing from Warner Bros. that an announcement would be made today. British tabloid the Daily Telegraph made the same error.

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