Eddie Redmayne Once Auditioned To Play Voldemort

The world of Harry Potter has become a much more magical place now that Eddie Redmayne will be joining in on the fun as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. But, according to Metro UK, Redmayne could have played Voldemort, thus entering the Harry Potter world a hell of a lot sooner. The actor reportedly auditioned to play the diary version of Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets while in university, but "properly failed and didn’t get a callback." That's right. We could have gotten the infectious charm of Redmayne years before Fantastic Beasts ever hit the silver screen.

But, if I'm being perfectly honest with myself, I can't get down with him as Voldemort. His heart is too pure. He's like a beautiful, freckled, halo-less angel. The trailers, teasers, and photos we've seen so far make it seem like Redmayne is going to wow us again with this boyish charm as Newt — and I wouldn't want it any other way. Though it wouldn't have been horrible to see Redmayne perhaps instead as a Weasley cousin, as he admitted, "Over the years, I always hoped I might be cast as a member of the Weasley family — I’m color blind, but I’ve always been told there’s a tinge of red to my hair — but unfortunately not."

We don't know much about what sort of job Redmayne will do with Scamander, because we don't know the author of magical textbooks yet. However, I'm fairly certain he wasn't made to be a Voldemort and was in fact made to be a Scamander. The following are the reasons why it's a good thing Eddie Redmayne never played Voldemort.

1. His Heart Is Too Pure

I've said it before, I'll say it again. That soft-spoken, playfully self-deprecating prince of a man couldn't pull it off. One look in those big browns, and all fear would melt away. I'm not saying Christian Coulson, the guy who actually clinched Tom Riddle, is truly evil but, hey, he could be.

2. He Doesn't Have The Right Hair For It

Redmayne is right; his hair does have a bit of a reddish tinge to it. What's he going to do? Dye those gorgeous locks so he can have the coal-black hair of Tom Marvolo Riddle? Boo.

3. He Wouldn't Have The Same Journey

If Redmayne had been cast as Tom Riddle for the 2002 Chamber of Secrets film, he might have missed his theater debut that same year. Playing Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night basically launched his now fruitful career. Who's to say that playing Tom Riddle for his debut role would have done the same thing?

4. He Might Not Have Been Cast As Both Riddle And Scamander

Perhaps he could have still nailed the role even if he already had a role in the Harry Potter franchise. But what if they wanted to hire a fresh actor instead? I truly believe a world without Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander is a world I don't want to live in.

5. I Prefer Eddie Redmayne In 1920s Apparel To A 1940s School Uniform

Those bow ties. I. Can't. Even.

6. It's Hard To Love Actors Who Portray Favorite Book Characters

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint did a great job portraying Harry, Hermione, and Ron. And yet, they weren't the same as the characters I pictured in my head — and for that I can never truly love them the same as I do the book characters. I wouldn't want that sort of thing to happen to my boy Redmayne as Tom Riddle. I appreciate that he will be a new character, with no real backstory for me to have in my head already.

7. He Got To Become A Real Fan Before Playing In The Films

Just like the rest of us, Redmayne loved watching the Harry Potter series. According to Metro, Redmayne said, "We were all fans and we grew up watching these films. For me, getting to go and see a Potter film every couple of years was like diving into that warm and cozy place that made you feel happy about the world." Because he didn't get to play Riddle, he experienced the series as a normal, and now gets to be a part of something he loves. Kinda sweet, right?

8. He Would Have To Put Makeup On Those Freckles

Tom Riddle is too sinister to have adorable freckles. Meanwhile, Redmayne's freckles make his appearance.

Some people say everything happens for a reason, and I'm not sure that's true. But I am sure that whatever path brought Eddie Redmayne to Newt Scamander is the right one. I simply can't wait to see that guy wrestling Hippogriffs or whatever in Fantastic Beasts.

Images: Warner Bros. Pictures; WarnerBrosPictures/YouTube; Giphy (7)