20 years ago, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released, introducing us to the boy wizard who would go on to change the world of literature as we know it.
Followed by six more books and eight movies, the series not only got a generation of kids into reading, but also allowed us an escape for when the real world got a bit too much. Through following the adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, we were introduced to the likes of Dementors and Hippogriffs, became enthralled in many a Quidditch match, and were left biting our nails during the Second Wizarding War.
The series became a part of us, so much so that it still sticks with us to this day, and it not only influenced us, but many of our YouTube faves as well. One look at their channels and social media shows a love for J.K. Rowling that holds no bounds, and because of that, we thought it’d be a swell idea to recast the series with a few of them.
Move over, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson – we’ve got some new witches and wizards to fill your shoes.
Harry Potter – Emma Blackery
Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the one tasked with defeating the most powerful dark wizard of all time. Who could possibly play such an important role, you ask? Emma Blackery.
Say what you want about Harry (we know he was slightly annoying in the films), he got things done. When tasked by Dumbledore to finish collecting and destroying Horcruxes, he persevered, even when Ron and Hermione doubted him. Emma holds this same attitude. She’s always been a go-getter, especially recently with the release of her new EP (and its accompanying tour) and a renewed direction on YouTube. She’s also incredibly loyal to her friends and those she looks up to, like Harry. Insult or attack someone she knows and it’s almost guaranteed you’ll feel her wrath, so be warned.
We also can’t overlook Emma’s sassiness! While the films failed to show this, Harry is actually quite the sassmaster, so Emma would be able to go into the role with ease.
Ron Weasley – JackSepticEye
TOP OF DA MORNING TO YA, LADDIES! Did you know Sean “Jack” McLoughlin would be the perfect Ron Weasley?
Aside from them both having bright hair, Jack and Ron couldn’t be more similar. Both are incredibly kindhearted, with each placing huge emphasis on family and loyalty. They also share the trait of being incredibly loud, and each has their own catchphrases. Imagine if, instead of saying “bloody hell”, Ron blurted out “like a boss” or “booper dooper” all the time – the books would be ten times better!
Finally, have you seen their appetites?! We wouldn’t recommend having either of them watch over that bag of sweets you just bought from the shop. We can guarantee it’ll be gone faster than you can say “Quidditch”.
Hermione Granger – Rosianna Halse Rojas
Smart, factual, and opinionated, there’s no-one better to play Hermione Granger than Rosianna Halse Rojas.
Just like Hermione, Rosianna is super intelligent, having made many a video about important topics and issues her viewers might not know too much about. She also isn’t afraid to speak her mind when people and society go too far, a trait Hermione too shares, evident in her work for House Elf rights (remember S.P.E.W.?) and her constant telling-off of Ron and Harry for not doing their assignments.
Similarly, both Hermione and Rosianna share a love for reading, with each often seen with a book in hand, and both are well-spoken and kind, radiating a confidence that leaves a lasting mark on those they meet.
Draco Malfoy – Bertie Gilbert
Yes, yes, we know. This is a pretty obvious choice, considering that Bertie Gilbert played Malfoy’s son, Scorpius, but here’s our logic: if he can play the younger Malfoy, why can’t he play the main one? It’s not as if Bertie doesn’t have the acting chops to take on the role. We’ve seen his ability to play many characters, from Toby in Sammy Paul‘s Friend Like Me to Sid in his own Rocks That Bleed. He’d be able to take on Malfoy’s cold demeanour with ease and would put on a very convincing performance.
And, let’s be serious, Bertie wouldn’t simply be content with playing Malfoy. He’d also be behind the camera, directing the film series. Because, hey, this kid can do it all!
Neville Longbottom – Adrian Bliss
Who’s the first YouTuber to come to mind when you think of Neville Longbottom? If it’s Adrian Bliss, then we’re on the same wavelength… Either that, or you managed to intercept our owl carrying this list.
Shy and clumsy, Neville is known for losing his Remembrall and being the target of Snape’s insults, leading readers to both feel sorry for him and see him as a bit of comic relief. Many could say the same about Adrian, whose Vlogvember and Vlune series showed the shy and ambitious creator working toward YouTube fame, only to be hindered by his inability to not act incredibly awkwardly in every situation.
However, just as Neville’s character develops, so too does Adrian’s. By the seventh book, Neville showcases a more loyal and confident side to himself, just as Adrian does by the end of Vlune when looking all over Disneyland for best friend Greg McCahon. Just like Neville, Adrian’s friends make him stronger and bring out the best in him.
Ginny Weasley – Rufaro Faith
Ginny Weasley is one of the strongest female characters within the Harry Potter series, which is why we’d have none other than Rufaro Faith picking up the role.
Just like Ginny, Rufaro is smart, kind, and not afraid to speak her mind. Because of this, her confidence shines through, showing viewers she’s capable of handling whatever’s thrown her way, just like Ginny when she’s forced to take a leadership role when the Death Eaters gain control of Hogwarts after Dumbledore’s death.
And while she isn’t afraid to step up and be a leader, she also isn’t scared to let her heart shine through in all she does. Rufaro loves her friends, family, and viewers to the moon and back, and we can say the same for Ginny, who shows a love for Harry and her family that knows no bounds, Ron included. (Even though he can be a pain sometimes.)
Rubeus Hagrid – PJ Liguori
Lover of magical creatures and all things weird, Hagrid is pretty much a doppelgänger of PJ Liguori!
While he isn’t half-giant, PJ does know an awful lot about the magical creatures that reside within our world, just like Hagrid, and we’d bet our next paycheque he’s adopted a dragon from a stranger in a bar. He’s got a heart of gold and isn’t afraid to stand up for his morals, showing the world that being a kind soul doesn’t prevent someone from having the courage and selflessness to do what’s right. Hagrid is an unsung hero of the series, just as PJ is of the YouTube world, having been one of the pioneers behind the site’s creative growth with his Oscar’s Hotel series and short films.
Luna Lovegood – Dodie Clark
Sweet, innocent, and quirky, Luna Lovegood is our favourite character in the Harry Potter universe, and who better to play her than YouTube’s resident sweetheart, Dodie Clark?
Luna has a heart of gold – something Dodie, too, shares. She loves her friends unconditionally, oftentimes more than herself, and she’ll do anything to protect them. She also has a great love for animals, and just as Luna takes care of the Thestrals in Order of the Phoenix, you’re guaranteed to see Dodie dotting over any animal that crosses her path.
Finally, just as Luna’s creativity shines in her work with The Quibbler, so too has Dodie been bitten by the art bug, having poured her heart and soul into her music, which you can often hear on repeat in our office.
Fred and George Weasley – Niki and Sammy Albon
You need a pair of twins to play Fred and George Weasley, so we’re casting Niki and Sammy Albon for the roles!
Fred and George are the series’ comic relief, often cracking jokes and pulling pranks. When things get a bit too serious, they always aim to brighten a room. This is exactly what Niki and Sammy do! In need of a laugh? Just take a peek at their channel and all your worries melt away!
It wouldn’t surprise us if the pair opened up their own joke shop one day, just like the Weasley twins. However, we do expect it to be very K-pop-inspired, which we’d have no problem with. We love ourselves some BTS. #BTSARMY
Albus Dumbledore – Charlie McDonnell
A YouTube veteran who’s been around the block more than a few times, Charlie McDonnell is our pick to play the wise Albus Dumbledore.
While Charlie might not have personally mentored any YouTubers, he’s definitely a pioneer of early YouTube, having inspired many to start up their own channels. The same can be said for Dumbledore, who inspired generations of witches and wizards to follow their dreams and protect the Wizarding World. He was wise and offered advice to those in need of it – especially Harry – and Charlie has done the same, showing time and time again he truly is one of YouTube’s treasures.
Our favourite Dumbledore quote? “Happiness can be found, even if the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.” It’s totally something we feel Charlie would say.
Severus Snape – Luke Cutforth
There’s no one we know who can do a more perfect Snape impression than Luke Cutforth. Imagine, the Snape you hated (and grew to love) no longer simply a Potions master whose dream was to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, but instead a world-famous musician known for his rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.
While Luke might not share many of Snape’s characteristics, he does have his sarcastic attitude (which works well with his type of comedy) and his loving nature, although he is MUCH more open about it than Snape. Come on, Snape. We all know how much you loved Lily Potter. Guess you weren’t as cold as you led us to believe!
Lord Voldemort – Vessel
Lord Voldemort, the nemesis of the entire Wizarding World. He’s definitely not a guy you’d invite around for dinner. There’s no YouTuber who’s as evil as him (which we’re eternally grateful for), so we decided the best fit would be the now-defunct Vessel.
Vessel was a video platform that allowed paying users to view YouTube videos before their public release, which caused quite an uproar within the community, with many denouncing the site and even more boycotting it. This backlash, along with the fact that few creators actually used it, made it the villain in the online videosphere.
Similarly to Voldemort, Vessel as we knew it is no more, having been acquired by Verizon and shut down. Voldemort’s death was a win for the Wizarding World, just as Vessel’s was for online video and viewer equality.
Bellatrix Lestrange – Carrie Hope Fletcher
If we couldn’t have the wildly talented Helena Bonham Carter playing the twisted Bellatrix Lestrange, our next pick would be Carrie Hope Fletcher.
Curly hair aside, Carrie definitely has the acting chops to play Voldemort’s favourite gal. She’s fierce, energetic and a natural-born leader – traits Bellatrix shares – meaning she’d totally own the role and deliver the character’s evil lines with ease, despite the fact she’s actually one of the sweetest YouTubers around!
And in case you needed even more convincing, Carrie’s no stranger to playing darker characters. She’s currently starring as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family: The Musical Comedy!
Sirius Black – Chris Kendall
Siriusly, Chris Kendall as Harry’s godfather? Of course!
We were first introduced to Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, after his escape from the eponymous prison. Because of his imprisonment, he was absent from Harry’s life, similarly to how Chris was absent from ours during his YouTube hiatus. (Maybe he was locked away in Azkaban too.)
Temperament-wise, the pair couldn’t be more similar. Both are good-natured, and have the ability to brighten up a room. Whenever Harry gets to see his godfather, he instantly feels this sense of love, just as we do when we see Chris has released a new video!
Seamus Finnigan – Dan Howell
At first glance, you might not think Dan Howell would be the ideal pick to play the accident-prone Seamus Finnigan, but hear us out. We have our reasons.
First off, Seamus has the unfortunate luck of either a) blowing things up, or b) catching things on fire. It’s not something he aims to do, it just happens. How does this relate to Dan, you ask? Despite his attempts to do so, Dan just can’t quite shake the “danisnotonfire” moniker, and he’s actually set himself on fire, which, y’know, plays into Seamus’s aesthetic.
Furthermore, have you seen any of Dan’s videos? He’s the most awkward, accident-prone YouTuber around! Remember the incident with the deodorant? What about the time he got sunstroke? See, him and Seamus are really two peas in a pod.
The nostalgia is real, isn’t it?
We’re not going to lie, there were many times during the writing of this article where we had to stop and watch a film from the series. It left us reminiscing about the times when we waited in the pouring rain to attend midnight screenings, because we knew we couldn’t wait more than a day to watch Harry’s adventures on the big screen.
What did you think of our pairings – did we manage to pass with an Outstanding on our O.W.L.s? Let us know by tweeting @TenEightyUK!
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