Nicholas Hoult Auditioned For Multiple Important Harry Potter Roles (& Didn't Get Cast For Any Of Them)

Nosferatu star Nicholas Hoult may have worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, but the actor has revealed that he missed out on joining the original Harry Potter movies. Beginning his career at just six years of age, Hoult would later gain widespread recognition for his role in the 2002 comedy About A Boy. More recently, he has also come to be known as the younger iteration of the X-Men’s Hank McCoy (AKA Beast), as well as landing the role of the iconic DC villain Lex Luthor in 2025’s Superman.

During an appearance on an episode of First We Feast’s hit YouTube series Hot Ones Versus with his Nosferatu co-star Lily-Rose Depp, Hoult was quizzed by his co-star about his connection with the film’s producer Chis Columbus. Known for having directed the first two Harry Potter movies, Hoult reveals that he originally auditioned before for Columbus for multiple roles, including Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Admitting his attempts were far from memorable, he also quipped to Colombus that he’s still yet to hear back from him. Check out his comments and the original video below:

I think I got to the point where I auditioned with [Columbus]. He didn’t remember this, it wasn’t even a memorable audition. I think I said, “Hey, I auditioned for Harry Potter. Still waiting to hear back… I think I’m kind of going to age out of it soon.” I remember doing a couple of auditions, and then meeting him and maybe having fake glasses for the audition. Not getting the role of Harry, and then maybe coming back and [them] being like, “Will you audition for Malfoy?” I don’t think I got that either, and then they were like just gradually audition for every role in Harry Potter until they were like, “No.”

What Missing Out On Harry Potter Meant For Hoult’s Career

Landing Potter Would Have Denied Him Other Opportunities

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While Hoult has managed to achieve considerable success over the years, his career trajectory would likely have taken a significant turn had he secured a role in the original Harry Potter movies. However, if Hoult had indeed landed the roles played by either Daniel Radcliffe or Tom Felton, it would have also meant he would have been largely unavailable for some of his more defining roles, including his breakout role opposite Hugh Grant, and potentially his later X-Men and Mad Max characters.

Related The Best Nicholas Hoult Movies From X-Men to The Favourite, Nicholas Hoult’s filmography is full of impressive roles and some iconic fan-favorite characters.

With production on 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part Two running through to late 2010, his commitments to the franchise would have directly conflicted with the simultaneous production of X-Men: First Class. Additionally, while Mad Max: Fury Road did not begin its shooting until 2012, Hoult had originally been cast as George Miller’s Nux prior to signing on as the X-Men’s Hank McCoy, and it was only due to the Mad Max movie's production delays that provided him with that particular opportunity.

Our Take On Hoult’s Unsuccessful Potter Auditions

The Superman Star Is Used To Seeing Opportunities Arise From Missed Roles

As someone who has been on stage and before cameras for the majority of his life, Hoult is no doubt well accustomed to missing out on major roles only to be later provided with better opportunities. Even his upcoming debut as the DC Universe’s new Lex Luthor has come off the back of unsuccessful audition processes. Having previously been shortlisted to play both Batman and Superman, before losing both roles to Robert Pattinson and David Corenswet, it would seem that the valuable lesson he learned in missing out on Harry Potter continues to serve him well.

Source: Hot Ones Versus