The Harry Potter franchise is a ticket to stardom for many actors, but one acclaimed performer decided not to join the Wizard World. Adapting the books by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter film franchise began with Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone in 2001. Across eight films, a generation of youngsters would grow up alongside the students of Hogwarts.

The movies would prove to be an instant box office success, and would even spawn a host of copycats throughout the Aughts. When the original series eventually ended in 2011, there was a Harry Potter-shaped hole left in the world of fantasy, but it was quickly filled by the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 2016.

Nearly 10 years after the release of the first Fantastic Beasts movie, Michael Cera appeared on The Louis Theroux Podcast and explained why he turned down a chance to appear. “I don’t think I have a franchise resistance,” the Barbie star said, “I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit.”

Michael Cera became a household name in the early 2000s thanks to shows like Arrested Development, but he “had a big fear of doing things that I would get too famous a little bit.” However, he’s changed, saying “I think I’ve outgrown that particular feeling…If a franchise came along now and seemed interesting, I don’t think…I would leave the office.“

“I don’t think I have a franchise resistance. I think I know what you’re referring to. I think I turned one down once. Yeah, I did. It was a Harry Potter one, Fantastic Beasts. I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because — well, I think it would be like probably a six-year commitment or something. But also, like we were talking about earlier, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it.

“And I felt like doing, especially little kids’ movies, I had a big fear of doing things that I would get too famous a little bit.

“I think that’s changed a little. I think I’ve outgrown that particular feeling. But I think that’s what that was at that time. If a franchise came along now and seemed interesting, I don’t think on the grounds of it being a franchise I would leave the office, storm out of the office or anything.”

Michael Cera Has Had An Interesting Career

From A Cult Classic TV Show To One Of The Highest-Grossing Movies Ever

Based on his comments during the conversation with Louis Theroux, it’s clear that Michael Cera is very protective of his image and career. He’s always been something of an indie darling, and many of Cera’s best movies are low-budget quirky comedies. He had brushes with major stardom, but always managed to avoid becoming too big.

The subversiveness of his career has always been one of its appeals, and movies like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World holds an important place in the hearts of a specific type of moviegoer. Franchise films never seemed like they were on the cards for Cera, but now it’s obvious that he actively avoided them.

Our Take On Michael Cera’s Comments About Joining The Harry Potter Franchise

It’s A Good Thing That He Turned The Role Down

While I have always been a fan of Michael Cera, I don’t think he’s right for something like Fantastic Beasts. It’s uncertain what role he was considered for, but it wouldn’t have been good for the film itself or for Cera’s career if he’d been cast. The Potter franchise has a certain tone and style that doesn’t match Cera’s personality.

It would have been jarring to see someone like Michael Cera pop up in the highly-polished Wizarding World franchise, especially since his appearance would have been played straight. He might have been a comic relief character, Harry Potter is a far-cry from the subversive indie sphere that Cera traditionally operates within.