Alan Cumming says he told 'Harry Potter' producers to 'f--- off' after they asked him to audition for Professor Gilderoy Lockhart
- Alan Cumming said he was asked to audition for "Harry Potter" alongside Rupert Everett.
- But he said he told producers to "f--- off" after he discovered Everett was to be paid more.
- "I said, tell them to f--- right off," he said.
Scottish actor Alan Cumming was almost part of the "Harry Potter" cinematic universe.
In a new interview with The Telegraph, Cumming said that he was asked to do a screen test for the role of Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" alongside fellow British actor Rupert Everett.
Before the audition, however, Cumming said that he discovered a pay discrepancy between himself and Everett. In response, he said: "I didn't turn it down. I told them to f--- off."
"They wanted me and Rupert Everett to do a screen test, and they said they couldn't pay me more than a certain sum, they just didn't have any more money in the budget," he said. "And I had the same agent as Rupert who, of course, they were going to pay more. Blatantly lying, stupidly lying, as well. Like, if you're going to lie, be clever about it. I said, tell them to f--- right off."
"The Good Wife" actor continued to say that he thought Everett was certain to land the role when he dropped out and was surprised when it ultimately fell to Kenneth Branagh.
"They made [Rupert Everett] screen test, and I remember he brought his own wig. And then they f---ing gave it to Kenneth Branagh, came out of the shadows."
It has previously been reported that Hugh Grant was initially offered the role of Gilderoy Lockhart, which he accepted. But Grant later had to turn down the offer because of a scheduling conflict. At the time, Grant's agent said: "Sadly Hugh had to turn down the part because he's committed to doing a movie with Sandra Bullock next February."
The Sandra Bullock collaboration was, in fact, 2002's "Two Weeks Notice."
The Guardian previously reported that Grant had already begun preparing for the role "Harry Potter" role by dyeing his hair blonde when he was forced to pull out.
Elsewhere during his interview with The Telegraph, Cumming defended his current HBO Max animated show "The Prince." The controversial black comedy is a satire of the British royal family centered around 8-year-old Prince George.
Cumming, who voices Prince George's butler, said the show isn't "as mean as people think."
When asked if whether he thought the royal family would find the show amusing, he said: "If they appreciate satire, they might … It's quite tender, actually - my character with George, it's a really lovely relationship."
In a review, Insider's Anneta Konstantinides said the comedy "just isn't funny, not even a little. And its jokes about the royal family feel expected and unoriginal."