10 Minor Harry Potter Characters The TV Remake Can Finally Explore In More Depth

The upcoming Harry Potter TV show has the opportunity to include some brilliant minor characters that the original films failed to focus on. HBO’s Harry Potter TV show will once again tell the story of Hogwarts’ Golden Trio – Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, who were played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson in the original movies. The Harry Potter books were groundbreaking upon their release and created an incredible cultural impact worldwide, with audiences falling in love with the Wizarding World and its unique stories.

The films invested a lot of effort into several main characters, such as Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), Minerva McGonagall (Dame Maggie Smith), and Lord Voldemort (Raph Fiennes). However, some minor characters didn’t get the screen time or character development they deserved in the movies, and some didn’t appear at all. Once the original Harry Potter movies are remade in the upcoming TV show, these characters will hopefully receive the recognition they’re owed.

10

Bill Weasley

Movie Actor: Domhnall Gleeson

Bill Weasley (Domhnall Gleeson) was the eldest of Molly (Julie Walters) and Arthur’s (Mark Williams) children and a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts. He first appeared in The Prisoner of Azkaban movie while working in Egypt but returned to England to join the Order of the Phoenix. During this time, he met Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy), and the two sparked up a relationship. They eventually married in The Deathly Hallows – Part 1.

Bill had some major moments in the books that were completely absent in the films. For example, he didn’t appear in The Half-Blood Prince movie, yet he was present for the Battle of the Astronomy Tower in the book. It was then that he was attacked by werewolf Fenrir Greyback (Dave Legeno), which left a large scar on his cheek. When Bill appeared in the following film, he had the scar, but it also created a plot hole. Ron’s oldest brother was a great character in the books and one that the TV show will hopefully give more screen time.

9

Aberforth Dumbledore

Movie Actor: Ciarán Hinds

Aberforth Dumbledore (Ciarán Hinds) was the brother of Hogwarts’ head teacher, Albus, and a key figure in the Second Wizarding War. In The Deathly Hallows – Part 2, he gave Harry, Ron, and Hermione access to a secret passage in his home to get back to Hogwarts. He later joined them at the Battle of Hogwarts and helped in the fight against Voldemort. However, several important details about Aberforth in the books weren’t included in the films.

Aberforth was once the owner of the Hog’s Head Inn in Hogsmeade, which was where Albus interviewed Sybill Trellawney (Emma Thompson) for her teaching position. He was also a member of the original Order of the Phoenix and fought in the First Wizarding War alongside the Potters. Despite his strained relationship with his brother, Aberforth was always in the background and watched Albus, Harry, and Hogwarts from afar throughout the years. These details could easily be added to the new Harry Potter TV show and could give audiences a better understanding of the Dumbledores as a family.

8

Peeves

Movie Actor: Rik Mayall (Deleted Scene)

One common complaint about the Harry Potter films from readers was that Peeves never appeared. Peeves was a Poltergeist who lurked around the halls of Hogwarts and caused all manner of chaos and mischief. He was very present during the Golden Trio’s time at Hogwarts, so audiences found it odd that Peeves wasn’t included in the films. For example, in The Sorcerer’s Stone, he caught Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville out of bed after hours and reported it to Filch (David Bradley). However, when Filch arrived, Peeves decided to mock the caretaker instead.

Peeves also found Nearly Headless Nick (John Cleese) after the Basilisk attacked him in The Chamber of Secrets, whereas in the film, Harry was the one who discovered the injured ghost. Peeves provided some amazing, hilarious moments in the series, such as singing “Loony, loony Lupin” at Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) and throwing chairs at Harry and Hermione as they practiced the summoning spell. Peeves was originally in the film version of The Sorcerer’s Stone and was played by actor Rik Mayall, although the one scene he was in was cut, and the character was never brought back.

7

Dean Thomas

Movie Actor: Alfred Enoch

Dean Thomas (Alfred Enoch) was a fellow Gryffindor and a friend of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Throughout the series, Dean was a helpful ally to the Golden Trio. In the Order of the Phoenix, Dean joined Dumbledore’s Army, and in The Half-Blood Prince, he briefly dated Ginny. He also shared a dorm room with Harry and Ron through their six years at Hogwarts. However, Dean Thomas’ tragic backstory in Harry Potter was cut from the books and films.

Although the Harry Potter movies didn’t delve much into Dean’s life, the books added some brilliant little details that made him a well-rounded character. For example, in The Sorcerer’s Stone, Dean made Harry a banner to support him at his first Quidditch match. He was also close with Fred (James Phelps) and George Weasley (Oliver Phelps) and helped them test Skiving Snackboxes in Order of the Phoenix. Even though Dean was present in the Harry Potter films, he wasn’t featured anywhere near as much as he was in the books.

6

Oliver Wood

Movie Actor: Sean Biggerstaff

Oliver Wood was the Keeper and Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he left Hogwarts and was easily the sport’s number one fan. Oliver was extremely dedicated to Quidditch and would frequently give long and complicated lectures to the team before matches. After he left Hogwarts, Oliver joined Puddlemere United as a reserve player, something the films failed to mention. He also played alongside Nymphodora Tonks (Natalia Tena) and Charlie Weasley (Alex Crockford), which wasn’t brought up in the films. Throughout the books, Oliver had some hilarious moments that the movie audiences, unfortunately, missed out on.

For example, in The Goblet of Fire, Oliver was so distraught that Quidditch was canceled because of the Triwizard Tournament that he hid in the showers, and Fred and George believed that “he [was] trying to kill himself.” One of Oliver’s most memorable qualities in the books was his obsession with winning the Quidditch Cup, which he finally did in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Oliver Wood was the ultimate Quidditch strategist and a faithful Gryffindor, but unfortunately, was another Harry Potter character that was wasted in the films.

5

Lee Jordan

Movie Actor: Luke Youngblood

Lee Jordan (Luke Youngblood) was Hogwarts’ overenthusiastic Quidditch commentator and another Gryffindor. Lee Jordan was present in all of the Harry Potter books, but weirdly only appeared in the first two movies. Because he wasn’t featured in the rest of the films, there were so many brilliant moments of his that audiences lost out on. For example, Lee was best friends with Fred and George yet was never seen with them. Lee was a member of Dumbledore’s Army and also attended Fleur and Bill’s wedding, two key moments that he wasn’t part of in the films.

However, it was Lee’s little moment in the books that made him such a great character. For example, he hilariously spent one Quidditch focusing on Harry’s new Firebolt over the actual game. During the Second Wizarding War, Lee hosted the Potterwatch radio show and voiced his support for Harry. Although Lee had left Hogwarts, he returned for the final battle and was around for Fred’s death and Harry defeating Voldemort. For such a present character in the books, it was disappointing that he was so absent in the movies.

4

Lily Evans/Potter

Movie Actor: Geraldine Somerville (Adult), Susie Shinner (Teen), Ellie Darcey-Alden (Child)

Lily Potter, née Evans, was Harry’s mother and a member of the original Order of the Phoenix, who sacrificed her life for her son. Although Lily was mentioned frequently throughout the films, it wasn’t until The Half-Blood Prince that audiences learned anything significant about her. Although Harry was always told that he had Lily’s eyes, unfortunately, there was always more of a focus on how he was the spitting image of James (Adrian Rawlins). However, there was a lot more to Lily that the films failed to acknowledge, but the books explained brilliantly.

In The Order of the Phoenix, Harry saw his parents as students at Hogwarts in a memory. However, the film excluded the part where young Snape called Lily a “filthy mudblood,“ which ended their friendship. The films also had opportunities to explain more about Lily’s relationship with Petunia after their childhood and how they were both pregnant at the same time, which could have given more context to how the Dursleys felt about Harry. Although Lily was a minor character, her past was incredibly relevant not just to Harry’s story, but also to the Wizarding World as a whole.

3

Madam Poppy Pomfrey

Movie Actor: Gemma Jones

Madam Poppy Pomfrey (Gemma Jones) was Hogwarts’ resident Matron, responsible for fixing every bump, bruise, and injury. Pomfrey appeared a few times throughout the films, more often than not during scenes in the hospital wing. In the books, however, Pomfrey was a much more present member of the Hogwarts faculty. For example, in The Prisoner of Azkaban, it was revealed that Dumbledore had entrusted Pomfrey to escort Lupin to the Whomping Willow every month to transform under the full moon.

Regardless of the situation around her, Pomfrey was always dedicated to healthcare. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, she was more concerned about the Dementors’ effects on the students than what they were there for. When Harry fell from his broom during the Quidditch match, she was the first to bolt across the pitch to his aid. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she was on the front lines helping the injured. Outside of her responsibilities, Pomfrey was a loyal friend to Minerva McGonagall, but their friendship wasn’t shown in the films, something that the TV remake should include.

2

Alice And Frank Longbottom

Movie Actors: Lisa Wood And James Payton

Alice (Lisa Wood) and Frank Longbottom (James Payton) were the parents of Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) and members of the original Order of the Phoenix. During the events of the First Wizarding War, while Harry and Neville were still babies, the Longbottoms were tortured into insanity by a group of Death Eaters that included Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham-Carter) and Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant). With no chance of recovery, they were sent to St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Neville was raised by his grandmother, who famously sent him a “remebrall” in The Sorcerer’s Stone. The films missed some interesting details about the Longbottoms that explained Neville’s character. They were close with Dumbledore and Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson), yet neither ever mentioned the Longbottoms. The Longbottoms were also just as big a target for Voldemort as the Potters, and the prophecy also applied to Neville, yet it was Harry who was the chosen one. Neville’s biggest motivation in Order of the Phoenix was his parents and what Bellatrix did to them, something that the TV show should delve into.

1

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Movie Actor: George Harris

Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt (George Harris) was an Auror who worked undercover at the Ministry of Magic after helping reform the Order of the Phoenix. Kingsley was intelligent and incredibly brave, and he demonstrated this in several ways. For example, in The Goblet of Fire, he fed the Ministry false information on Sirius Black’s (Gary Oldman) location to keep him safe. In the Battle of Hogwarts, Kingsley fought valiantly and then later became the acting Minister of Magic, celebrated for his work and determination.

Kingsley had a past with the Marauders that the Harry Potter movies didn’t spend enough time on. He was extremely vocal about Voldemort’s return and spoke against the Ministry when they denied it, which led to him reviving the Order. Kingsley also supported the Golden Trio and made time for them as people rather than just pawns in the chess game against Voldemort. For example, he attended a party at Grimmauld Place to celebrate Hermione and Ron becoming prefects.