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SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 at 8:02 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: Sci-fi.com
According to Mike Newell, director of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Ralph Fiennes was cast
as Voldemort because he has the ability to play the character as a realistic and frightening villain and not as a simple caricature.
According to Newell:
You have to have the actor to do it. And Ralph was the actor to do it, because Ralph doesn't chew the scenery, and he isn't a sort of 19th-century melodrama figure. He's absolutely real and cold and chilling and absolutely dedicated to doing bad. And as soon as you have that, you can do it.
Newell and Fiennes had to ask some simply questions about Voldemort's motivation:
What does he want? Why does he want to come back? What sort of a person is he that he wants to come back? What sort of a person is it who wants to impose a reign of evil? Does somebody who wants to impose a reign of evil actually see that it's evil? Or is it in fact for them a kind of good? So there was a lot of that stuff, which is the sort of thing that you discuss with an actor when he's getting to really concentrate on the part. And that was all very, very profitable.
Newell also gives his reasoning as to why he hasn’t yet read Half-Blood Prince.
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226-249
Muggle
Points: 68
Pretty Hermy says:
i'm sure that Ralph Fiennes has done his best
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:04 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1057
bushbaby14 says:
Its such an important character and one we haven't seen before they have to get voldemort as realistic as possible and similar to what people are expecting.
He has to be the scariest thing we have ever seen and if they manage to get that right then I think the audience will be very pleased.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:07 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1196
Rowling Rocks says:
I hope Ralph Fiennes does a good job as Voldemort. It's the sort of role that if you don't do it well, it's completely ruined, but if you do well, it has an incredible impact. But at least if he does a rubbish job, we can have something funny to laugh at. Well, I will at least.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:10 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1090
Octavian Petronius says:
He should do a really good job. Yeah it would have been great if he was a Potter fan for years, but LV is just such a bad guy that even someone who hasn't heard of Harry Potter would be troubled by hearing of him.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:12 AM EST
Harry's Mental Advisor
Points: 19432
Smileyradcliffe says:
I think they picked the right person to play voldemort.. he was evil in red dragon, and i think he'll do a great job!!
can't wait to see the movie
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:20 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1493
Hedwig4eva says:
I believe that he will do a wonderful job with the part. He already looks scary in the makeup. It has to be hard to portray such an evil sadistic character, and I'm sure he has done it justice.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:25 AM EST
Magical Owl Rising
Points: 4643
Hoots says:
Ralph Fiennes did a great job as a the pycho in Red Dragon. He plays the bad guy brilliantly. I can't wait to see the movie. He is talented and will do Voldemort justice.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:32 AM EST
Squib
Points: 167
Hollow Godric says:
I hope it works!
I suppose the Half-Blood Prince came out too late for the film, but I'm sure JKR gave a few tips to Fiennes.
Voldemort really is the most important character in this film - he has to be utterly believable for it to work, which is much harder to do in a movie than a book.
I know I'm going to be holding my breath (metaphorically of course) all through the film until I see him!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:36 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2474
Leina D. says:
Mr. Fiennes is a fantastic actor! He could portray a character in love...of course he could play voldemort acurately. Can't wait for the movie.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:39 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 449
Nemevii says:
Well, I would not want to be in his shoes! He has a pretty hard role to play. Especially since Voldemort is such an important caracter and in this movie he has to lay a base for the other films to come, so he better shows an image we can believe in. so that nobody has to ask themselves what he is trying to do on screen! We better enjoy this movie!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:45 AM EST
canon
Points: 2575
gaea says:
Wow, it sounds like they really but in a lot of effort to find out what makes Voldemort tick.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:48 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1017
i1a5n5 says:
From what I've seen he seems to be the right person for the job! I can't wait until the movie is out and see how he does the job - as Nemevil said, it is a difficult role to play and an important part of the story!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:50 AM EST
Squib
Points: 115
Viktor Garcia says:
Well, I saw some photos of him playing Voldemort and they were awful...I hope they're not really from the movie...
Can't wait to see the movie and check it!!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 8:56 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1079
Invisible Touch says:
Ralph Fiennes is one of my fav actors, short behind Alan Rickman and the wonderful Gary Oldman, and - oh, yeah - I'm so looking forward to the next movies...
I want to see GoF NOW!!! :-)
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:01 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1968
Silverblood says:
I think Ralph Fiennes is really a good actor. I ve seen some of his photos and he seems to be the one who can play Voldemort.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:09 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2252
cjoyath2o says:
Yeah, I am really excited about Ralph Fiennes being LV, that should be great! =) I think that it is kinda weird though that Mike Newell has not read HBP yet. Very weird. But I guess I understand being really busy with the movie. I hope that Ralph read it though so he could get as much history on his character as possible.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:14 AM EST
Squib
Points: 153
swt`angel says:
This is cool.. getting to know ur character before doing the Real thing.. i guess ralph will make a good voldemort! good luck to him!!
oh, it IS weird that mike hasn't even read the HBP!!! i agree, cjoyath2o, probably too busy..
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:22 AM EST
Squib
Points: 163
mowna says:
I think that ralph has done is best in this movie and that it will probably be the best movie about Harry made by now. =)
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:29 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1237
HeadmistressMcGonagall says:
Well, we'll just see when the movie comes out, won't we?
haha, Totally kidding.
I'm sure he's done a great job!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:29 AM EST
Divine Intervention
Points: 2619
PhantomFingers says:
Voldemort is a scary one of a kind wizard, and I agree that Ralph Fiennes has the skill to play him. He was excellent as a psycho in Red Dragon.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:31 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
I'm sure that Ralph Fiennes is gonna be great. Anyway, they're not gonna choose a bad actor to play such an important role.
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:31 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1805
Swimangel57 says:
Thats awesome! His description of Voldemort sounds great! I think I'm glad that he didn't have HBP while they were filming because it would have changed alot of things. It may have been harder to film GOF knowing some of the things that happen in HBP. I can't wait to see it!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:33 AM EST
Witch
Points: 619
dance_girl says:
I think Ralph is going to be great in the movie though at first i didnt know how he would be voldemort. But i guess he can. Personally i think Ralph is a great actor!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:34 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1248
Ivay says:
Hahahaha!Newell hasnt read the new hp book!?THAT'S BAD!But i understand..and i think raplph will do fine as voldemort
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:42 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1412
HPLasts4Ever says:
Wow!!! hes a really talented actor, im sure he did a great job! :)
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:48 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1348
~*Veela Grl *~ says:
I hope he did his best cause I was thinking he'd be great! Toodles!!!
Posted Sep 22, 2005 at 9:48 AM EST
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