James McAvoy reveals he was nearly cast as major Harry Potter villain

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy James McAvoy says he was nearly cast as the major villain in the Harry Potter film series in the early years of his career. “I was actually learning and doing all that.” British actor Christian Coulson would go on to portray Tom Riddle in the quick flashback scene in the second movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. James McAvoy said he was offered a ‘ton of money’ to play a major Harry Potter villain The eight-movie adaptation of author JK Rowling’s best-selling book series about the Boy Who Lived is currently in the process of being turned into a TV series for HBO. A decade-long TV adaptation was confirmed last year, with the aim of it being a “faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series.” The series is expected to release in 2026, featuring an entirely new cast from the film franchise, which originally starred Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as the leading trio.