Why Flitwick's Appearance Changed Drastically After ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’

The ‘Harry Potter’ films, cherished by audiences over the past two decades, are not without their quirks and inconsistencies. One notable change is the transformation of Professor Filius Flitwick's appearance. Fans have observed a significant shift in how Flitwick looks between the first two films and the subsequent ones. While the movies themselves don't explain this change, a 2009 Twitter discussion with actor Warwick Davis sheds some light on the mystery.

Professor Flitwick, a part-Goblin wizard and head of Ravenclaw House, was portrayed with a distinctive, vintage look in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’. He had a small stature, a flowing white beard, and wore green robes, reflecting a classic fairytale aesthetic. This look fit well with the magical, whimsical atmosphere of the early films, which were aimed at a younger audience.

Image Courtesy: CBR

However, in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’, Flitwick's appearance underwent a dramatic change. Gone was the white beard and old-world charm; instead, he sported brown hair, a mustache, and glasses, wearing a tuxedo. This modernized look was a result of a creative decision when Alfonso Cuarón, the director of ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’, cast Davis as the Choir Master, with a design that deviated from the original character. Director Mike Newell liked the new style so much that it was adopted for Flitwick in subsequent films.

The visual shift aligns with the overall darker tone of the ‘Harry Potter’ series from the third film onwards. Cuarón's direction brought a grittier realism to the franchise, reflecting the more mature themes and the deeper, more somber narrative as the characters faced more complex and darker challenges. Despite the change in appearance, Davis’s portrayal maintained Flitwick’s essence, staying true to his role as a skilled and beloved professor.

–Farheen Ali