A lot has been made about theHarry Pottermovie franchise and what it cut from the source material, but one beloved book character was given next to nothing to work with on the big screen. When he’s first introduced inHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Remus Lupin makes an impact and quickly becomes someone the audience likes and wants to see more of. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen inlaterHarry Pottermovies.
It goes beyond just not seeing Lupin as much in the movies as he is intheHarry Potterbooks; it’s how crucial storylines involving him are completely missing. There are aspects about Lupin’s personality, backstory, romantic life, and his tragic death that are barely a blip on the radar in the movies, which is disappointing. The lack of care and effort put into Lupin’s big screen character is a missed opportunity.
Harry’s Bond With Lupin Was Closer In The Books
After The Third Movie, The Two Barely Interact
Lupin’s first appearance inThe Prisoner of Azkabanis a standout moment in the film. He heroically pops up and saves Harry and his friends from a Dementor. After two chaotic years at Hogwarts withDefense Against the Dark Arts professorswho were either possessed by Voldemort or who didn’t know what they were doing, Lupin marked a refreshing change for the students. He knew what he was doing and he was a good, caring professor.
Their relationship is the most important in the film until Sirius Black is revealed as Harry’s godfather and therein lies what might be the problem.
The Dementor problem was a major one for Harry and it was Lupin who stepped up to help him.He gave Harry private lessons on how to perform a Patronus Charm, took him under his wing, and most importantly, bonded with him over knowing Harry’s father. Their relationship is the most important in the film until Sirius Black is revealed as Harry’s godfather and therein lies what might be the problem.
The films didn’t have enough room to fit all the storylines from the books, so what little bonding and guidance Harry has to have with a father figure going forward happens with Sirius (though it’s also less than in the books) and not Lupin. For the remainder of the movies,Lupin is shoved aside and barely interacts with Harryoutside of a few conversations.
Lupin’s Romance With Tonks Is Almost A Non-Factor
The Movies Totally Skip Over The Whole Saga
The romance betweenLupin and Tonks is a pretty big part of the final few books, even if they aren’t exactly a focal point. On the page, it is revealed that Tonks is interested in pursuing a relationship with Lupin and though he’d also like that, he had his doubts and hesitations. Lupin came up with several excuses for why they couldn’t be an item, from him being poor to him being too old for her.
This sent Tonks into a depression that led to her metamorphic abilities suffering andher Patronus changing. When they finally end up together and get married, it’s a nice moment. These are key scenes for these characters that get people invested in them. Instead of including any of them, the films kind of just shove them together without giving anyone a reason to care. That lessens the impact of any scene involving them.
The Arc About Tonks' Pregnancy & Lupin’s Worries Was Cut
Lupin Attempted To Leave Tonks At One Point
It ultimately turned out that Lupin’s excuses about being poor and old were more his way of covering up that his true concern was his lycanthropy. Lupin himself was already an outcast because he was a werewolf and he felt that by marrying him, Tonks was going to become one too. Lupin blamed himself for the possibility of this happening to Tonks and things worsened when she became pregnant.
It’s one of the most intense conversations in the entire franchise, yet it is absent from the films.
Lupin worried that he’d pass the lycanthropy onto the baby and raised his concerns to Harry, Ron, and Hermione while they were at Grimmauld Place inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He offered to join the trio as they hunted horcruxes, only for Harry to decline and argue with him for attempting to leave his child. It’s one of the most intense conversations in the entire franchise, yet it is absent from the films.
Again, this is a situation where it would’ve added a lot to Remus' character. He wouldn’t just be the werewolf former professor that ispart of the Order of the Phoenix. He’d be a layered, nuanced character who makes mistakes and has to grow from them. The fact that Remus returned to Tonks and was by her side when their son Teddy was born made the fight with Harry worth it and is a feel-good moment.
Lupin Being Turned By Greyback Should’ve Meant More
The Movies Don’t Even Touch On It
One of the many characters who are less prominent in the movies than in the books is Fenrir Greyback. He’s not a huge character on the page but he feels intimidating in his short appearances. The way that others speak about Greyback tells a lot about him, as Draco is uncomfortable around him and he’s considered the most savage werewolf around. Greyback takes pleasure in hurting and torturing people, so whenever he’s around, the reader tenses up.
The movies leave out a lot about Greyback and his history, which includes the fact thathe was the one who attacked Lupin as a child and infected him with lycanthropy. That should’ve been touched upon in the movies, especially once Bill is attacked by Greyback and left scarred. It even plays a part in the Remus/Tonks story because when Bill’s girlfriend Fleur says she will love him regardless of the scars, Tonks compares their situations and it helps Remus see the light.
Including more about Greyback and his history with Lupin would’ve benefited multiple storylines. It would’vehelped flesh out the aforementioned missed aspects of Tonks and Remus' relationship, making them mean more. However, it also would’ve added more to Greyback as an antagonist. He’s kind of just another Voldemort goon in the films when his mere presence should’ve been terrifying.
Lupin’s Death Was An Afterthought In The Movies
He Was Just Another Body In A Pile Of Them
The biggest injustice done to Remus Lupin as a character in the movies surrounds his death. In the books, it’s a crushing reveal because of how much time was given to make you care about the characters. The fact that Lupin and Tonks die together during the Battle at Hogwarts is devastating, especially since it leaves Teddy as an orphan, much like Harry was as a baby.
Unfortunately,their deaths don’t have quite the same impact on the big screen. Their bodies are quickly glanced over (the same goes for Fred Weasley) and then the movies move on to Harry finding out the truth about Severus Snape from the Pensive. The combination of how the moment itself is handled and the lack of development given to Lupin and Tonks makes this a disappointing end for aHarry Pottercharacter who deserved better in the movies.
