Summary

• Michael Gambon's Dumbledore is refreshing, unpredictable, and full of energy, making him a welcome change to the Harry Potter film franchise.
• Richard Harris' Dumbledore is someone who is wise, caring of the children around him, and accurate to the books.
• Jude Law's Dumbledore is a younger version who is able to get involved in the action and showcase his power as a wizard.

When looking at Harry Potter, there has always been a fan battle that pitted Richard Harris vs. Michael Gambon for who was the better Dumbledore, but there is also a case for the younger Jude Law. Richard Harris debuted as the Hogwarts headmaster, playing the character in the first two films of the franchise. After his tragic passing, Michael Gambon took on the role and is most synonymous with it due to appearing in six movies. Most recently, Jude Law has played a younger Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts series.

With Max bringing the story to the small screen in a 10-season Harry Potter series, it will only gain popularity and another Dumbledore is on the horizon. Albus Dumbledore remains one of the most iconic characters in literature, and when it came to adapting the Harry Potter books to the screen, finding the perfect Dumbledore was no easy task. However, lightning managed to strike more than once, as Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, and Jude Law all brought a great take on the powerful and beloved wizard.

Michael Gambon Is The Best Dumbledore Because

He's Refreshing

Richard Harris's Dumbledore may be more faithful to the books, but he doesn't seem quite as nuanced in the first two films. Michael Gambon's Dumbledore is unpredictable, exciting, and refreshing. He has a lot more energy than Harris's Dumbledore, which is clear in his movements and his speech. It's hard to imagine Harris embarking on the dangerous adventures depicted in the later Harry Potter movies. Michael Gambon was a welcome change to the film franchise for several reasons, even if he isn't faithful to the books. After all, the point of an adaptation is not to copy the source material but to adapt it.

His Attitude Meshes Well With The Teen Characters

Richard Harris' version of Dumbledore seems like the ideal man to care for children, but Michael Gambon's performance matches the vibe of the teenage characters much more naturally. Despite being an elderly man, his wild and vibrant attitude makes him much more relatable to the slightly older versions of the Golden Trio, and it feels like he's actually preparing them all for the enormous task ahead of them rather than just being a teacher mentoring children. Gambon's character was much more relatable in many ways.

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He Suits The New Darkness

As Harry gets older, the stakes are heightened. He has to come face-to-face with the Dark Lord, and the world around him is changing. Death Eaters are roaming the Muggle world, his friends are in danger, and he needs to learn more powerful magic quickly. The arrival of Dementors and mysterious dogs in the third film marks a very big change from the previous Harry Potter movies. Even the color palette of this film is darker. Richard Harris's Dumbledore would seem out of place in this shadowy world, while Gambon's mysterious character suits it. His approach to Dumbledore also hints at a darkness in his own past which isn't present in Harris's.

He Trained Under Laurence Olivier

This isn't to say that Richard Harris is a slouch when it comes to his acting training - his legendary career speaks for itself. However, when it comes to understanding and learning the craft of acting, no film actor can compare to Laurence Olivier. According to The Times UK, Olivier recruited Michael Gambon for the National Theatre Company, which Olivier himself had only recently founded at the time. From these humble beginnings, Gambon has gone on to win dozens of acting awards in his career, including three Olivier Awards.

He Brings The Playfulness That Dumbledore Needs

"Playful" may seem like a strange way to describe Dumbledore, especially Michael Gambon's, but somehow the actor manages to make him feel that way. Richard Harris brought a gentle cheer to his version of Dumbledore, but Gambon made Albus feel like more of a rebel. Dumbledore may be the headmaster of the school, but it's one of the strangest and most freewheeling schools that anyone has ever seen. It makes a lot of sense for Dumbledore to be much more relaxed and seem like he's even in on the fun sometimes.

He's Tough Enough For Dumbledore

One thing that everyone knows about Dumbledore is that, although he would never use his magic on students and seldom uses his magic in school, he has gone toe-to-toe with the strongest and most dangerous dark wizards in the world. Michael Gambon makes the audience believe that all of this is true. Dumbledore is an older man now, but Gambon allows the audience to see what kind of fights he must have gotten into as a young man, as well as conveying that he still has that fighting spirit in him.

He Brings Dumbledore's Youthfulness

Dumbledore may quite literally be a wizened wizard, but what makes Michael Gambon's performance, so compelling is that he has the kind of attitude and spring in his step that allows him to perfectly blend in with the tweens and teens that are in his charge. This Dumbledore feels relatable, like someone who has made mistakes and who will probably make more. In his early years at Hogwarts, Harry saw Dumbledore as a kind of infallible mythic figure, so Gambon's ability to humanize him and make him feel more down to earth was just what Dumbledore needed.

He Captured Dumbledore's Chaotic Side

Dumbledore may have decades of life experience under his belt, but the stoic and measured demeanor of Richard Harris doesn't quite encompass everything that Albus truly was. While Michael Gambon still captured the more mature aspects of the character, he could also believably portray the wilder and more unpredictable Dumbledore. It's hard to imagine Harris' Dumbledore raising Harry with the intention of him possibly dying in service of the greater good, but Gambon's version seems capable of such a decision.

He's More Intimidating

In order to believably play Albus Dumbledore in the later installments of the Harry Potter films, the performer needed to have a certain dark gravitas that Richard Harris simply didn't possess. Michael Gambon was an ideal Dumbledore because it was actually believable that a villain as terrifying as Voldemort would be intimidated by this version of Dumbledore. Gambon could sell the audience the idea that the Dark Lord was frightening, but Albus was even scarier. He was just the right shade of gray to allow Dumbledore to do what he needed and sell that idea to the audience.

He Wasn't Afraid Of The Role

Given how renowned and skilled an actor Michael Gambon is, his humbleness and ability to underplay his achievements are pretty impressive. Taking over the role of Albus Dumbledore is something that most actors would find intimidating, but when Richard Harris had already successfully played Dumbledore and when it was clear how well the Harry Potter movies were going to do, it was a whole other story. Even now, though, Gambon seems to feel very comfortable with it. He spoke to Future Movies and said that he basically just stuck on the beard, donned the costume, and went for it, as he has with every other role he's played.

Richard Harris Was The Best Dumbledore Because

He's More Faithful To The Books

In the books, Dumbledore is calm, collected, friendly, and intuitive. Richard Harris portrays these traits perfectly; he seems trustworthy, and he's always quiet and soft-spoken even when his words are heavy. Michael Gambon's Dumbledore, on the other hand, is loud, harsh, and demanding. For instance, when Harry's name is spat out by the Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore ruffles Harry and shouts at him. In the books, he asks quietly whether he put his name in, already knowing the answer. Remaining loyal to the books is not a bad thing, and changes made ruffled the feathers of some long-time book fans.

He's Someone Harry Can Talk To

Even if he is all-knowing, Dumbledore seems more caring and personable in the first two films. He handles baby Harry with care as he leaves him to the Dursleys. When Harry reaches school age, Dumbledore watches over him, but he's approachable. Harry has a friendly conversation with him on several occasions; he isn't as distant and mysterious as Gambon's Dumbledore. This makes him feel like a mentor and someone who really cares about Harry. Gambon's Dumbledore makes Harry nervous. The two characters grow distant, and their relationship feels less warm than it used to. In fact, Harry doesn't even trust him by the fifth film.

He Will Always Be The Original Dumbledore

First impressions count, and Richard Harris certainly leaves a lasting one. Faithful fans can't help but think of Richard Harris as the "true" or "original" Dumbledore. He helps to set the tone of the film series, and he establishes Dumbledore as a character, which is no easy task. Richard Harris will always be the first Dumbledore and the one who helps build the world of Hogwarts. However, while this is a positive for fans of the books and those who came onboard with the first two movies, it really needed to change once things started getting dark.

He Had Childlike Wonder

Albus Dumbledore is a character with a lot of depth and complexity to him, and the way he's played is often up to the actor. What makes Richard Harris stand out in his performance as Dumbledore is his demeanor. Richard Harris makes a perfect Dumbledore in the early years of Harry Potter because, despite the fact that he is presented to appear ancient, he still seems like someone who looks at the world with a sense of childlike wonder and excitement. This is ideal for relating to young Harry. Harris's version is who Harry needed when he first arrived at Hogwarts.

He Oozed Wisdom

Although one of the bigger lessons that Harry ultimately ends up learning is that Dumbledore can't give him all the answers, he is a veritable fountain of knowledge regarding wizardry. Michael Gambon undoubtedly comes across as a very sharp person, but Richard Harris just seems like the kind of man who would know absolutely everything. He's the picture-perfect embodiment of a wise mentor, and it's not hard to believe that he'd have the future of the wizarding world planned for years in the future.

He Brought The Kindness That Dumbledore Needs

Albus Dumbledore may be one of the most powerful and skilled wizards who have ever lived, but he is also the headmaster of a school. It's a well-known fact that Dumbledore is unmatched, but Richard Harris's behavior makes Dumbledore look like someone who wouldn't hurt a fly. He seems like the kind of person who children would meet and have full trust and faith in right off the bat, which works very well for the character, especially in the first two films when Harry is so young. As a headmaster, Harris was much better than Gambon.

He Made Dumbledore Feel Timeless

One of the brilliant things about Richard Harris is that his version of Dumbledore almost feels removed from reality. He looks perfect in his role as the wizened wizard, and it wouldn't be hard to believe that he was playing a character that was a hundred or even a thousand years old. Dumbledore is a real man, but he is also a legend, and Richard Harris's Dumbledore really looks like the kind of legendary character who separates himself from the crowd and cements his legacy as one of the most exceptional wizards in history.

He Felt Like A Real Teacher

In all fairness, it's not that difficult to manipulate 10-year-olds. But Richard Harris's version of Albus seemed like the kind of man who saw what was happening with his students, could sometimes foresee mistakes being made, but would let those mistakes happen if it provided an opportunity to teach that student a valuable lesson. Michael Gambon's Dumbledore feels a little cooler and a little more like someone to whom kids would be able to relate, but Harris's ability to make his relationships in the film really feel like relationships between a teacher and a student are fantastic.

He Felt Distant In The Way That Dumbledore Should

There is a natural amiability to Richard Harris' acting in the first two Harry Potter installments, but he also feels like a mystery to Harry himself. One of the biggest realizations that Harry has after Dumbledore's death is how little he actually knew about the man who had been guiding him for so long, so Harris actually nailed that aspect of the character without making the distance between them feel cruel or misleading for Harry.

He Was Afraid Of The Role, But Did It Anyway

When the casting process for Harry Potter began, Richard Harris was open about the fact that he was reluctant to even put his name in the running, let alone to take the gig. Harris was an incredibly accomplished actor by the time he was cast in Harry Potter, but according to The Guardian, he refused the role on three separate occasions before finally agreeing to take it. Apparently, his granddaughter swooped in and saved the day. She told him that if he turned down the role, she'd never speak to him again, so he finally agreed to play the part.

Jude Law Is The Best Dumbledore Because

He Is Still Young And Optimistic

While the Fantastic Beasts movies didn't receive much critical love and ended up ending too soon because of a diminishing box office, the movies had a lot to offer fans of Harry Potter. This included a great performance by Jude Law as a young Dumbledore. With both Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, Dumbledore was mostly a wizard who made plans, stayed at Hogwarts, and didn't do too much outside of that location due to his advanced age. However, with Law, fans got a young and vibrant Albus Dumbledore. He was much more active, had big plans for the future, and hadn't let his battles with Grindelwald beat him down yet.

He Is An Active Wizard In The Community

Dumbledore, in the main Harry Potter movies, was the headmaster of one of the most prestigious wizarding schools in the world. He had little time for more than that, although he still made sure to make plans and "play chess" with the Wizarding World, knowing that bad things were coming in the future. However, the Fantastic Beasts movies allowed fans to see Dumbledore in his glory. He was out and about, casting spells, and was the powerful and active wizard people had only heard about. The last movie would have seen him in one of the greatest battles in history, but sadly Jude Law is likely to never get the opportunity.

He Has Doubts About Who He Needs To Be

By the time Harry Potter started his education at Hogwarts, Dumbledore was set in his ways. He watched his closest friend betray him and watched another wizard tear the wizarding world apart. However, with Jude Law in the role, he hadn't seen either of those things happen. While his friend Grindelwald was building a legion of wizards for a war, Dumbledore was still unsure of his place in the world and how he could deal with his friend when the time arose. While his fate was set in stone, Law at least got to play Dumbledore when he still had a wide-open future in his path.

He Brings An Air Of Mystery To The Franchise

Jude Law got to do something special with Dumbledore. In the Harry Potter movies, Dumbledore was mostly an authority figure, and in the world of espionage, he was the man making the plans and putting the chess pieces in place. Law got to be more hands-on in the action. Dumbledore was still the chess master with everyone from Newt Scamander to Credence Barebone as his chess pieces. However, in these movies, Dumbledore was also out in the middle of the action - not yet the controller figure, but instead a sort of his own James Bond, planning out the next move that he planned to make personally.

He Fits In Better With The Other Characters

In the Harry Potter movies, Dumbledore is an elderly man who is responsible for all the students and professors at Hogwarts. Richard Harris was 71 when he took on the role as Dumbledore and Michael Gambon was 64 when he replaced him. They were father, or grandfatherly figures to Harry Potter - at best. However, at 46, and looking younger, Jude Law seemed to be more of a contemporary of the Fantastic Beasts cast. Eddie Redmayne is 10 years younger and Don Fogler is only four years younger. This made Law someone who seemed like he fit in with his fellow characters as more than a figure that they needed to look up to.

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  Harry Potter

  Summary:

  Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and more.

  Assistant Director :

  Chris Carreras

  Budget:

  $125 million

  Cast:

  Robbie Coltrane, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, Daniel Radcliffe, Maggie Smith, Emma Watson

  Cinematographer:

  John Seale

  Director:

  Chris Columbus

  Distributor :

  Warner Bros.

  Franchise:

  Harry Potter

  Genres:

  Family, Adventure, Fantasy

  Producer:

  David Heyman

  Production Company:

  Warner Bros., Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures

  Rating:

  PG

  Runtime:

  152 minutes

  Sequel:

  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

  Sfx Supervisor:

  Nick Davis

  Writers:

  Steve Kloves

  Website:

  https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/harry-potter-complete-8-film-collection

  Story By:

  J.K. Rowling

  Characters By:

  J.K. Rowling

  Main Characters :

  Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, Ron Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy