Cliff Notes – Michael Cera reveals relatable reason he ‘turned down’ Harry Potter role
- Michael Cera disclosed that he declined a role in the Harry Potter franchise, specifically in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off, due to concerns about long-term commitment and fame.
- He expressed a desire to maintain control over his career and limit exposure, particularly in family-oriented films, reflecting on how his priorities have shifted since becoming a father.
Michael Cera reveals relatable reason he ‘turned down’ Harry Potter role
Michael Cera opened up about turning down a huge role in Harry Potter (Picture: FilmMagic)
Michael Cera has revealed that he once ‘turned down’ an opportunity to star in the Harry Potter franchise.
The actor began his career as a child in the 90s, before shooting to fame thanks to his role as George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development.
He went on to star in a string of movies including Barbie, Superbad, Juno, Nick and Norah’s infinite Playlist, Scott Pilgrim vs the World.
During an appearance on the latest episode of the Louis Theroux podcast, the 37-year-old unpacked his career and shed light on why he feared becoming ‘too famous’.
When asked if he would ever consider a role in Mission: Impossible, having worked with Tom Cruise in the past on the MTV Movie Awards, the dad-of-two touched on why he hasn’t appeared in a franchise just yet.
‘Well, I don’t think I have a franchise resistance,’ he clarified to the host. ‘I think I know what you’re referring to. I turned one down.
Michael revealed that he turned down the opportunity for the Fantastic Beasts spin-off (Picture: Getty)
The first Fantastic Beasts movie was released in 2016 (Picture: Warner Bros)
‘It was a Harry Potter one. The Harry Fantastic Beasts. I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because, I think it would be like probably six years commitment or something.
‘Also, we were talking about it earlier, I did make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it. Doing especially little kids movies.
‘I had a big fear of doing things that would get me too famous. I think that’s changed a little. I think I’ve outgrown that particular feeling, but I think that’s what that was at that time.’
The spin-off series spawned three films (Picture: Warner Bros)
He didn’t name the part that he turned down, but the prequel spin-off series spawned three films – 2016 offering Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018 and 2022’s The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Eddie Redmayne led the way in the three movies, starring opposite Jon Voight, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen and Zoe Kravitz along the way.
Despite growing up in the spotlight, Michael has taken steps to keep his private life firmly behind closed doors in recent years.
He has kept quiet about his wife Nadine and their growing family, with Amy Schumer revealing that the pair had welcomed their first child in 2022 – six months after the little one’s arrival.
Michael has starred as George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development (Picture: Netflix)
He also appeared in the teen comedy Juno (Picture: Fox)
Last year, he confirmed that he had become a father for the second time, while appearing on The Tonight show with Jimmy Fallon.
Discussing how fatherhood had changed his priorities, he previously told the Hollywood Reporter: ‘I think the only thing that it affects is that you just want to spend as much time with them as possible.
‘So when I was 20, I would have been way happier to go off to some weird city and live in a hotel for three months. And when you have kids, you want to be with your family. And you miss them a lot.’
The Louis Theroux Podcast is available on Spotify and all podcast platforms.
