With the Harry Potter franchise expanding with a TV series, actors from the movies have shared their feelings about the saga, and I completely agree with Gary Oldman’s complaint about Sirius Black – but that also made the character better. The Harry Potter book series was a global phenomenon back in the late 1990s and 2000s, and it didn’t take long for it to make the jump to the big screen. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001 to great success, allowing fans of the books to see the characters, objects, and events they were familiar with come to life.

the Harry Potter TV series is that it can explore stories dropped by the movies and give more time to underutilized characters. Of course, some of the actors from the saga have shared their thoughts on this project, and I completely agree with Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black complaint.

Gary Oldman Feels Sirius Black Was Underused In The Harry Potter Movies - & He’s Right

Sirius Black Deserved More Time In The Harry Potter Saga

One of the most memorable and beloved characters in the Harry Potter books and movies is Sirius Black, played by Gary Oldman. Speaking to IndieWire while attending the 76th Primetime Emmys in September 2024, Oldman was asked if he would be open to returning to the world of Harry Potter in the TV series. Oldman isn’t counting on being asked to return in the TV series as Sirius Black, but he did share his love for the character. Oldman added that Sirius “wasn’t in it enough” and pretty much “turned up and then he went through the veil”, and I agree.

Sirius Black made his debut in the saga’s third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Throughout most of the movie, the audience is led to believe Sirius Black is a villain who betrayed Harry’s parents and returned to hurt the young boy. However, it’s revealed that Black was actually James and Lily’s best friend who was betrayed by another one of their friends and framed. Black goes on to become very close to Harry and a fan favorite thanks to that and more.

After Prisoner of Azkaban, Black appeared very briefly in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room to quickly (and safely) communicate with Harry – however, his role in the books was a lot bigger and more important. A lot of things happen in Goblet of Fire and I understand many characters and scenes had to be cut, but it’s especially unfair when it comes to Sirius Black, the only loving “family” member Harry had left.

By the time of the events of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, in which Black had a bigger role, it felt like a good chunk of his and Harry’s story was omitted as they were very close by then, but Oldman’s performance helped make this smoother and more believable.

Less Sirius Black Made Gary Oldman’s Performance Better (& Sirius’ Death More Tragic)

Sirius Black Is One Of The Best Characters In The Harry Potter Movies

The talent of Gary Oldman is undeniable, and he was one of the best additions to the Harry Potter saga, which is why it’s a shame that Sirius Black was so underused in the movies. However, Oldman’s presence is so strong and he channeled the smoothness and emotional charge of Black so well that, even though his appearances were brief, they were memorable. I can’t imagine any other actor playing Sirius Black as well as Oldman did, and that also made his death a lot more crushing.

As mentioned above, Black was pretty much absent throughout Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but he was more present in Order of the Phoenix. Along with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix, Black battled Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and the Death Eaters at the Department of Mysteries. Unfortunately, Bellatrix hit Sirius with a curse, sending him backward into the veil and to his death in front of Harry.

Oldman’s heartwarming and charming performance as Sirius Black made the latter’s death a lot more tragic because it truly felt as if the audience had also lost a loved one, as he managed to connect with viewers. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the most we saw of Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black, and it was so good it makes me even more frustrated that he wasn’t properly used in the previous movie, but that also made his death so much harder to watch.

The Harry Potter TV Series Must Do Justice To Sirius Black (But Without Gary Oldman)

A New Chance To Give Sirius Black The Place He Deserves

As mentioned above, the Harry Potter TV series is a new opportunity to do justice to characters and events that couldn’t be explored in the movies – and among them is Sirius Black. The format of a TV series will give the project a lot more time to develop specific scenes, storylines, and characters, so it can finally do justice to Sirius Black and his role in the saga. However, and as much as I love Gary Oldman, I think the Harry Potter series would do better with another actor as Sirius Black.

If all characters are being recast, Sirius Black shouldn’t be the exception, and this also makes way for another interpretation of this beloved character. No matter who ends up playing Sirius Black in the Harry Potter TV series, I just hope the show will give the character the time and importance he deserves.

Source: IndieWire.