Fun Facts About "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone"

In 2001, Chris Columbus brought us the adaptation of one of the most famous wizards in literary history.
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” arrived and its success was so great that it opened the door to the rest of the movies.
Here are some fascinating facts about the film:

Steven Spielberg’s Missed Opportunity:
“I was offered Harry Potter. I developed it for five or six months with [screenwriter] Steve Kloves, and then I left.”
Did you know that Steven Spielberg himself said this? He was offered the chance to direct the movie, but Chris Columbus ended up taking the reins.

Daniel Radcliffe's Eyes:
In the book, Harry Potter has green eyes. The production tried to give Daniel Radcliffe green contact lenses, but he developed an allergic reaction and had to abandon them.

Hermione's Teeth:
To make Emma Watson resemble Hermione from the books, they gave her dental prosthetics. However, she was barely understandable when speaking, so the idea was scrapped.

Rupert Grint's Unique Audition:
To land the role of Ron Weasley, Rupert Grint sent a particularly creative tape to the producers. They loved it so much that they called him for a live audition, and the rest is history.

Rupert and Alan Rickman’s Sketch:
Rupert enjoyed drawing and once made a caricature of Alan Rickman (Snape). When Rickman found out, Rupert panicked about his reaction. Instead, Rickman told him he loved it, signed it, and Rupert still has it as a keepsake.

The Hogwarts Map:
J.K. Rowling personally drew the entire map of Hogwarts for the film.

The Great Hall’s Food:
Remember all the food in the Great Hall? Contrary to what many think, it was real food. However, after three days under the hot studio lights, it would rot and smell awful.

Richard Harris as Dumbledore:
Richard Harris played Albus Dumbledore magnificently in the first two movies but rejected the role three times. He finally accepted after his granddaughter told him she wouldn’t speak to him if he didn’t play Hogwarts' headmaster.

Casting Harry Potter:
Daniel Radcliffe wasn’t the first choice for Harry. Thousands of boys auditioned, and the team initially considered Haley Joel Osment. However, J.K. Rowling insisted on casting an unknown British actor.

Philosopher’s vs. Sorcerer’s Stone:
The cast had to film two versions of every scene that mentioned the “Philosopher’s Stone.” For the U.S., they replaced it with “Sorcerer’s Stone” to match the American book title.

Hedwig's Tragedy:
Three owls were trained to play Hedwig. Tragically, one escaped through a window during a photo shoot and was hit by a car.

J.K. Rowling’s Casting Choices:
Richard Harris (Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Snape), and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) were all personal choices made by Rowling herself.

Robin Williams Was Rejected:
Robin Williams, a huge fan of the books, offered to join the cast. However, producers insisted on hiring only British actors, leaving him out.
Tom Felton's Wit as Draco Malfoy:
Tom Felton hadn’t read the books when he was cast as Draco. When asked about it during auditions, he gave such a clever response that it convinced the team he had the cunning the role needed.

Daniel Radcliffe’s Souvenirs:
Radcliffe kept two items from the set: Harry’s iconic round glasses and the bone-removal prosthetic from the second movie.

Box Office Success:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

Peeves the Poltergeist:
Some scenes featuring Peeves were filmed but were cut due to budget and time constraints. Director Chris Columbus, whose favorite character was Peeves, regretted not including him.

Hagrid’s Size:
Columbus wanted Hagrid to look enormous but had limited CGI resources. The team relied on clever camera perspectives to achieve the effect.

Alan Rickman’s Secret:
Rowling trusted Alan Rickman with key details about Snape’s fate before the books were finished. She guided him on how to portray Snape’s complex relationship with Harry. Rickman never revealed these secrets.

The Video Game Adaptation:
EA Games released a game based on the movie, which narrated the story in a unique way. Though its graphics seem dated today, it was highly appreciated at the time.