Saruman For Hogwarts?

Harry Potter fans were shocked to hear of Richard Harris' passing on Friday, leaving Harry without a headmaster for his third year at Hogwarts. However, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is due to begin shooting in 2003 and, according to his official site, Christopher Lee has been asked to fill the role of Dumbledore. Having already warmed up his wizardly shtick as twisted sorceror, Saruman the White, in The Lord of The Rings, Lee may once again sport beard and robes as the kindly Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter's mentor and the beloved headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Christopher Lee and Lord of The Rings co-star Ian McKellen were both office favourites when we debated who should succeed Harris on Monday morning. Suggestions that maybe Brian Blessed could bring his rolling baritone to the role were met with a certain degree of scorn, though nods to Sean Connery, Paul Schofield and Peter O'Toole were given fair consideration by the Empire Online team. Nevertheless, we think Lee is a top choice and will look forward to seeing him at Hogwarts next term if the rumours of his involvement prove to be true.