Holy Hogwarts! Is it true that Emma Watson, 16-year-old child star of the Harry Potter films, will not be coming back for the final two installments of the multi-billion-dollar-grossing movie franchise?That’s what more than one British tabloid reported over this past weekend. But, as with stories filed by the hideous journalist character Rita Skeeter in the Potter books, the so-called “news” about Watson turns out to be untrue.
Watson plays the spirited, super-talented young witch Hermione Granger — the girl who, along with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), is best pals with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). The kerfuffle over Watson’s alleged defection blew up into a bit of a media circus after several tabloids, including News of the World, claimed in print and online that Watson was definitely nixing the last two films. But within hours, Warner Bros. spokesfolks had countered this so-called news, telling the BBC’s website that the movie studio is “extremely confident that Emma will be back for films six and seven.” A contact at the movie production company confirms to EW that final details of Emma’s agreement simply are not quite ready yet, but that it’s very likely she’ll have that settled shortly. (Meantime, costars Dan Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are all set for films 6 and 7.)
What’s behind Watson being the last of the three kids to sign on thedotted line, as she’s done on earlier films? The care she’s taking tonurture her educational future, most likely. She turns 17 in April, andshe reportedly did terrifically well on exams last spring that couldplace her in a top university this fall. But the sixth Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,is scheduled to go before cameras starting in September. Watson islegally only allowed to work 4 hours per weekday until she is 18 yearsold, so the shooting schedule on Half-Blood Prince, as with all the earlier Potter films, is likely to take 8 to 10 months.
The seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,comes out this July, but the movie version of it wouldn’t begin filminguntil at least fall of 2008.That means that by agreeing to finish out the films, Watson has tojuggle shooting demands with school until at least the fall of 2009,when she’ll be 19. (Costar Grint, who’s already 18, has said he has noplans to go on to university. Harry Potter himself, Dan Radcliffe, hasalready completed the equivalent of US high school, and took this yearoff from studies. He may or may not begin university part-time whilestill filming the finale of the series.)
So, Potter fans, if you were Emma Watson, what would you do? Wouldyou quit the movies to go to college unencumbered? Would you just makeboth work at once, as Watson appears poised to do? Would it really beso bad if Hermione did have to be replaced in the last two films? Afterall, they’ve already had two Dumbledores. Get those quills scribblingand weigh in. Meantime, don’t believe everything you read in a Britishtabloid.
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Juggle it – it will be good practice for being an adult.
HP6 and 7 will not be the same without Emma Watson as Hermione. So i hope for all HP fans out there that she does decide to sign on for the last two films.
I don’t see why she would have a problem starting university at 19. Plus, she has tons of money. What’s the rush?
Yes, but of course the studio is going to say that. I’m not saying it might not be true, but WB is obviously going to say everything is fine until the very last second, so them saying it now doesn’t really mean much. Only time will tell.
Use the time turner – duh!
Actually, it’s good for her to prioritise college. There is no end to the number of child actors who had nothing to fall back on, and are now Dancing with the Stars. Oh wait, they are the stars. Oy.
Perhaps it’s different in the UK, where actors are actually considered to be working artists. Of course she should finish out the series, but school is just as important.
She should do what’s best for her. She’s just a kid. I would never tell my kid to quit school at the equivalent of 11th grade just to act and make big bucks. She can act her whole life but once she leaves school she’s unlikely to go back. As a fan, I’d hate to see the films without her, but as a parent I have to say I hope she stays in school no matter what.
thinks for all you do for the good.
I say the kids should finish the movies, then go to college, THEN try and find new acting gigs. All three will be pigeon holed to death unless they can get a break.
Watson’s top brass far as I am concerned, but the kids were notably older in part 4. If they take too long, these kids won’t look childlike enough to pass as kids by the time part 7 comes out.
I wish Emma good luck in whatever she does…it’s actually nice to read about a young star who has her eye on more important things than partying/clubbing – if only we read more about Emma Watson and less about the Lohans/Hiltons/etc. of the world….I’d personally say finish out the movies and then go to school, but it’s her life and her future, and she is certainly smart enough to know what/where she wants to go…
im glad to hear shes prioritizing her studies. we dont want another child star turn into a Lohan.
She might as well work while she can…
This sounds like a standard contract negotiating ploy. If this movie makes the studio $150 million, and they are only offering her $4 million, she has the right to hold out for more and threaten to quit.
I’m basically echoing what several people have already said. I would hate to see movies 6 and 7 without Emma Watson. She’s taken the character and made it her own. To replace her this late in the game would be detrimental. However, as an educator, I’m all for her going to college. She seems to be a very bright young woman with a good head on her shoulders. I don’t think she’d have trouble entering college as a part-time student until the films are completed.
If school is important for her than juggle or wait after the films are done. The thing with Harry is sadly that if she doesn’t do the movies she will be hated around the world! It’s such a completly different situation with Dumblemore that I find a shame this was brought up.
I agree, Isa, that Dumbledore was an entirely seperate situation. In that instance, an actor died. I believe that there is no question, that were Richard Harris still alive, he would still be Dumbledore to this day.
I, personally, would hope Emma comes back to finish the series, and while i can respect the decision if she doesn’t, many others will hate her for “ruining the remaining movies.”
I’m just curious if there is the possibility that she’s waiting on the Deathly Hallows to come out to see what happens to the character Hermione before she decides to come back or not… It certainly wouldn’t surprise me.
I hope she finishes the series, but I’ll say this about the possibility of the rumor actually being true: If she’s already decided she’s not returning for the final two, I would be willing to bet that WB is doing everything they can to make sure that news doesn’t get out until after the launch of Book 7 and the premiere of OOTP, both in July. Otherwise, that is all people will talk about — the press junkets for both will be heavily focused on Emma and not the film, which wouldn’t be a good thing if they are, indeed, going to replace her.
I just had a horrible thought. What if she leaves and they decide to do an American Idol/You’re the One that I Want-type TV show to cast the next Hermione? I feel a little sick….
I think the studios should lay off a her little to allow her to study at the same time. There’s no REAL reason why they should gob out the films every X years anyhow, they can allow her a 9month sabbatical or something, basically arrange for her to do the films in her breaks. After all, Natalie Portman did so for the Star Wars films, and Hermione (in my opinion) is as LEAST as important as Padme Amidala!?!
I really hope she is stayin on. She’s just such a sweetheart and I love her in the role of Hermione. Being an adult fan of the Harry Potter series, I’m more than happy to see any of the actors take on more adult roles as they grow older (it is only natural, afterall) so long as they come back and finish off the last 2 HP movies.
I would definitely miss her should she turn down the final two films, but really it’s about what is best for her. She should agree to make the movies if that’s what she wants to accomplish. I hope she doesn’t choose to juggle things only based on pressure to do so.
Warner Brothers wanted to pay her less than Rupert and a lot less than Radcliffe. What they don’t think she’s worth the same money as Rupert? With all the millions they make on these movies, they should be willing to pay her on the level of what the two boys are making
I totally hope that Emma Watson stays for the next two movies. I would dearly miss her so so much and I do not think that she can be replaced.She is a very good actress and she has made a lot of money with the Potter films!Why is she in such a hurry to go to college? She has so much money.I understand that education is important but she has money and that is what you want an education for right?So it is like skipping a step. But knowing a lot about Emma as I do-she says that she would choose a great marriage over a great career but if she coud she would like to have both. I think the chances in Emma returning is very good-I’m about 92% sure she will be back. She would be absolutely crazy if she did not take it.I know I would.
i really hope emma stays b/c even tho school is important this is a great oppurtunity. plus she has so many fans that really want her to stay. i kno it will be hard to juggle school and the movies but i’m sure someone like her could do it. it’s even great that she’s trying to juggle both. i really respect her for that…but i think that she should finish out the series. more people probably wouldn’t come to see the last two movies if she wasn’t in them. fans like to have things stay the same in movies especially if it’s a series.
Emma should make hay while the sun shines. There is an expiration date associated with her opportunity to make these movies, and then her chance will be gone forever. College she can do anytime. As a smart girl, I am sure she knows this.
Emma is brilliant! She’sa brilliant actress, and I’m sure she’s got loads of academic talent to boot. I think she should try and tackle both. I understand that education is important but this is a chance of a life time. And they only found a replacement for Dumbledore because Richard passed on, T_T The movies would not do so great if she were to leave. But I’m sure she has already completely signed on to do the rest.
MAN, that girl is growing up RIGHT!
oh thank goodness. I was wondering how I was going to explain to my son (who is autistic )about where his Hermione went.
Wow if her hartz wantz 2 go 2 skool Let her go.. Skool is really important.. And if her hart says go 2 skool and don’t do the last 2 movies go fallow ur hart.
Fallow ur hart.
gesel… Are you pretending to be horrible at spelling? I sure hope so…
If Emma left for the last 2 movies, it would be disapointing, i’d miss her, and the movies wouldn’t be the same to me! I really hope she juggles it!