Wizarding Worldz
Fred Weasley’s Death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was emotional, but changes made by WB ruined the scene in the film.
Fans won’t easily forgive (or forget) how the Weasley twin’s death was depicted in the Harry Potter film series, especially since Fred Weasley dies in a very different manner in the source material.
The Harry Potter book series began in 1997 with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which introduced readers to the Wizarding World and the characters who would quickly become very close to Harry (and important to him):
Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The latter formed a strong bond with Harry, whom Ron’s parents and siblings, including Fred and George Weasley, considered to be one of their own. The Harry Potter books make a game out of confusing the identical Weasley twins, but Fred is the unfortunate Weasley twin to perish.
In the first book (and film), Fred and George Weasley were introduced to the world. In a harmless manner, Ron’s older brothers caused mischief at Hogwarts; they were pranksters known for their sense of humor.
Fred and George even opened their own joke shop, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, in Diagon Alley. The twins were practically inseparable and extremely loyal to their friends, assisting Harry in any way possible. Only one of the Weasley twins survives until the conclusion of Harry Potter.
During the Battle of Hogwarts, Fred Weasley, the most prominent twin, was killed. George never got over the death of Fred Weasley, even naming his first son after him.
Fred’s death was one of the most heartbreaking moments in the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but the film adaptation changed it, diminishing the scene’s emotional impact in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.
How Harry Potter’s Films Ruined the Death of Fred Weasley
Fred and George were assigned to defend Hogwarts’ secret passages in the book, and when the Death Eaters attacked, Fred fought alongside his older brother Percy, who had recently severed ties with the Ministry of Magic and battled his former boss Pius Thicknesse.
The group (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and Percy) flew in separate directions after an explosion interrupted Fred’s conversation with his brother. During the Battle of Hogwarts, after the initial shock, Harry realized he was half-buried in the debris of a corridor, and then he heard “a terrible cry that pulled at his insides.”
He observed, “three red-headed men huddled together on the ground” and heard someone yelling denial. Ron was kneeling beside them while Percy shook Fred’s body.
Rowling makes the death scene of the Weasley twins more tragic by describing Fred’s eyes as staring without seeing. Percy remained by Fred’s side until Harry assisted him in moving the body to a safer location.
Later, he was transferred to the Great Hall, where his family and friends wept over him. Nonetheless, the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 drastically altered Fred’s demise.
The Death of Fred Weasley in the Film
Due to the scene lasting only two seconds, it is believed that Fred was disarmed by a Death Eater; however, it was actually George (who wore a purple jacket) who was attacked. Fred wore a green one, further prompting the audience to question whether Fred or George is deceased.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter the Great Hall before the death scene of the Weasley twins is shown. Instead, the scene cuts directly to his family mourning over him in the Great Hall as they enter.
Although Percy is present, he is merely standing in front of his brother’s body, while their mother and brother kneel next to it while their father consoles George. Snape’s death, it is one of the saddest moments in the film, but it does not compare to the source material.
It feels disrespectful that Fred’s death was changed (and kind of ignored) in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
So as it transpired mere seconds after Percy rejoined his family, it was even more tragic for the Weasleys. Although it is understandable that some things must be omitted due to screen time or budget constraints, Fred’s death is one of those that should have been addressed exactly as it occurred, or at least closer to the way it occurred.
Not book changes are the issue with Death of Fred Weasley.
Since the release of the Fantastic Beasts film franchise, there has been an explosion of alterations to the Harry Potter canon and source material. In addition, with J.K. Rowling being the controversial figure that she is today, Warner Bros.
alterations to the Harry Potter series are a welcome way of distancing the author from her work. Therefore, the fact that the death scene of the Weasley twins differs from that in the book is not the central issue. Numerous alterations have been welcomed by supporters.
Rather, the scene (or lack thereof) did Fred as a character a disservice. The Weasley twins were introduced in the first Harry Potter film and accompanied the Boy Who Lived until the very end of his journey.
Fred may not have been as important a character as, say, Ron or Hermione, but the Weasley twins (and the Weasley family as a whole) had a significant impact on Harry’s life.
Fred Weasley’s death being depicted off-screen and then glossed over in a single shot is an insult to the character’s memory and all he contributed to the series.
Overall, the Harry Potter films handled the death scene of the Weasley twins horribly, and Fred deserved better.