The Harry Potter movie franchise might have cast a spell on millions with its magic spells, magical beasts, and Hogwarts escapades, but not all of its actors led such clean lives in real life.
Now, as HBO officially reboots the Harry Potter franchise over a decade after The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, a new cast has been confirmed. Heavyweights such as John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), and Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape) are joining the ensemble to bring new life to the wizarding world.
But whereas the newer crop of actors has large footsteps to follow in, they are also stepping into a legacy fraught with more than a little bit of magic — and a rather healthy dose of scandals that even Slytherin would be loath to share.
During the peak fame of the original cast, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint were both said to have been snapped smoking pot at parties. Although never formally confirmed, even the rumors sent waves through the fan base, revealing the most human aspect of the beloved three as they matured from children in the public eye to young adults.
But the most spectacular tumble from grace was Jamie Waylett, who portrayed Vincent Crabbe, one of Draco Malfoy’s faithful sidekicks. From 2001 to 2009, Waylett was seen in six Harry Potter movies before his life turned much darker.
In April 2009, Waylett was stopped by police, who found a knife and eight bags of cannabis in his vehicle. Matters were further complicated when a search of his home turned up that he was growing marijuana plants worth an estimated £2,000. Waylett was subsequently removed from the franchise and did not reappear in the last two movies.
Two years afterward, in 2011, Waylett hit the headlines again — but this time for taking part in the London riots. He was seen on television with a Molotov cocktail and stealing, and was convicted of violent disorder and given a two-year prison term.
But Waylett’s not alone among those whose post-Potter career moves raised an eyebrow or two. Down the years, there have been several supporting players who caused a tabloid tizzy. From rumors of bare-bodied Playboy shoots to unproven accounts of actors joining such sites as OnlyFans, some of these past Hogwarts pupils have private lives anything but G-rated.
In spite of their off-screen diversions, most of the original cast members have continued to enjoy successful careers or slipped quietly out of the spotlight. Nevertheless, the contrast between their enchanting on-screen characters and their occasionally troubled real lives provides another level of fascination to the Potter legacy.
As HBO’s reboot readies a new generation of wizards and witches, it isn’t only the magic incantations or sorting hats the new cast will be measured against — it’s the legacy of a franchise that’s saturated in both cinematic history and news-grabbing scandal.
Whether the next generation can keep their wands clean or stir up fresh drama remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: in the Harry Potter universe, real-life scandal might just be the darkest magic of all.