IrishDawg said:
I read somewhere that the 5th movie won't be out until 2007. At the rate that they're going, they'll have to replace the current Harry, Ron, and Hermione because they'll all be too old to play the parts.
Hmmm.... let's see....
Book 1 = Hermoine, Harry, Ron and Draco are supposed to be 11 years old.
Actual ages by the Nov. 2001 film release: Watson = 11 (April 15, '90), Radcliffe = 12 (July 23, '89), Grint = 13 (Aug. 24, '88), Felton = 14 (Sept. 22, '87)
Book 2 = 12 years
Actual ages by the Nov. 2002 film release: 12, 13, 14, 15 (for Watson, Radcliffe, Grint and Felton)
Book 3 = 13 years
Actual ages by the June 2004 film release: 14, 14, 15, 16 (for Watson, Radcliffe, Grint and Felton)
Book 4 = 14 years
Actual ages by the Nov. 2005 film release: 15, 16, 17, 18 (for Watson, Radcliffe, Grint and Felton)
Book 5 = 15 years
Actual ages by Nov. 2007 film release (estimated release date): 17, 18, 19, 20 (for Watson, Radcliffe, Grint and Felton)
Book 6 = 16 years
Actual ages by Nov. 2008 film release (estimated release date): 18, 19, 20, 21 (for Watson, Radcliffe, Grint and Felton)
As shown, some actors started out older than their characters from the start. Of course, it's important to remember that I'm listing the actors' ages as of the movie release date - the filming may be done a year before than (with the rest of the time dedicated to CGI effects and editing). Hence, this is why Tom Felton was able to play an 11 year old so well in the first movie, even though he was 14 by the time the movie was released.
It's also key to remember that not every 13 year old is the same. I presently know two 13 year old boys who's voices haven't even changed! My voice changed shortly after my 14th birthday. And it's this aspect that may help a child actor play a younger part.
At the current filming schedule, while Tom Felton may be looking a bit "old in the tooth" to play a 16 year old (by Movie 6), Radcliffe and Watson will still be in their teens. A few years age difference here shouldn't be too dramatic.
The unknown is Book 7. As it's not even written yet, how long it takes until it's converted into a movie may play a role in whether all the main actors stay for the entire series. If Movie 7 comes out in 2009, then we have the same situation as we did in Movie 6, and I don't think anyone will be too upset to discover a 22 year old Tom Felton playing a 17 year old Draco Malfoy.
But if it takes until 2010 or later for that last book, then there might be a problem using some of the same actors.
Of course, this goes the other way as well. The older actors are aging and may not be able to play their parts. We already lost Richard Harris (Dumbledore). Michael Gambon, Harris's replacement, was born in 1940. Alan Rickman (Snape) was born in 1946. Maggie Smith (McGonagall) was born in 1934. Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) was born in 1950. All of these actors are now over 55 years of age. If Book 7 isn't made into a movie until 2011, Maggie Smith would be nearly 80, provided she is still alive! So there is a sense of urgency to get these works out, but not necessarily because of the child actors.