In the history of fantasy literature that was adapted for the screen, there is perhaps no greater omission than that of Tom Bombadil from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Fortunately for Harry Potter fans, there was never a cut character from the books of Bombadil's scale.
However, there were a slew of notable figures in the seven Wizarding World books that did not make the cut to the big screen. While some of these characters were so inconsequential that their absence hardly made a difference, there are still the following figures who absolutely could have, and maybe should have, been in the movies.
10 Peeves
Peeves the trickster ghost nearly made it into the first Harry Potter film, as played by Rik Mayall. However, his scene was cut in the final stages of editing. This left one of Hogwarts' most prominent ghosts away from the action.
Considering how prominent Harry's relationship with the ghosts becomes over the course of the story, it was definitely a mistake. The movie was already quite comprehensive - what would one Peeves scene have hurt?
9 Ludo Bagman
The movies could have always used more Fred and George, and the inclusion of Ludo Bagman in The Goblet of Fire would have led to that. His financial wizardry would have been a welcome addition of levity to the films.
It also would've explained better how Weasley's Wizard Wheezes came to be. The filmmakers thought Bagman was nonessential, but he actually proved to be quite a relevant figure in the larger story.
8 Tonks' Parents
In Deathly Hallows, the Order's transport of Harry from Privet Drive to the Burrow has a few more detours than just the straight line to safety they were hoping for. For example, the book depicts a cool-down moment between Harry, Hagrid, and Nymphadora Tonks' parents, Ted and Andromeda.
This helped give depth and stakes to Tonks' story, rather than just depicting her as "Remus' wife." Ultimately, Ted doesn't make it out of the story alive, but that doesn't mean a cut of his character was needed.
7 Professor Binns
Professor Binns, what with his inability to make an impression on the students (who, in turn, make no impression on him), might seem like an easy cut. Working as the History of Magic professor, Binns tends to bore his students, but he also provides critical exposition about the Chamber of Secrets.
Even if the movies were content with the exposition coming from other characters, Binns could still have worked in a comic relief capacity. He'd be the magical version of Ben Stein's teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
6 Marietta Edgecombe
Not only was the omission of Marietta Edgecombe unnecessary for the films, it actively seemed to harm the films. In Order of the Phoenix, it is said to be Cho Chang (not of her own volition) who reveals the secrets of Dumbledore's Army.
In the books, it was actually Marietta. By omitting her character, Cho is left to shoulder all the blame. And Cho was innocent! There could just as easily have been an extra character in the DA scenes.
5 Dedalus Diggle And Hestia Jones
Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones are not the most prominent members of the Order, but they are the people called in to help the Dursleys escape the danger of Voldemort at the beginning of Deathly Hallows.
Dedalus and Hestia could have absolutely been included in the films. Deathly Hallows was already split into two parts, allowing plenty of time for the story to unfold as it was meant to. Plus, it would've enabled fans to see the Harry and Dudley reconciliation play out on screen.
4 Neville's Parents
Neville Longbottom receives a ton of justice in the final Harry Potter film, as he becomes the one to kill Nagini, the final horcrux. However, the movies did not do Neville any favors up until this point.
For example, his entire arc as the almost-chosen one, and the loss of his parents' memory because of their willingness to fight evil was abandoned in the films. Frank and Alice only receive mention in passing (and a brief photo), which depletes the development of one of the books' strongest characters.
3 Winky
Dobby is the de facto house elf in the Harry Potter films, and even he doesn't receive as much story time as he does in the books. Kreacher is on screen for a little bit at a time. Winky is cut entirely.
Winky would've helped to show how different the house elves could be, rather than just being "sweet" or "cruel." She was a dynamic character who helped ground the S.P.E.W. story line into something positively tangible. The movies were weaker without it - and her.
2 The Muggle Prime Minister
There was definitely no reason to cut the scenes with the Muggle Prime Minister from the films. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Cornelius Fudge both engage with the prime minister in ways that helped to show the true severity of Voldemort's intentions.
Instead, the Muggle world is abandoned almost entirely, save for the Dursleys and one unsuspecting waitress, in favor of more magical storytelling. The use of the prime minister would've grounded the stakes even further, though. And besides, the MCU gets away with a fake president. Why couldn't Harry Potter just make up a leader?
1 Charlie Weasley
Technically, Charlie Weasley does appear in Prisoner of Azkaban, but only in a brief photograph of the Weasley family. Considering Charlie's role in the books, this hardly counts as an appearance.
Charlie helped bring the story full circle when he returned in Deathly Hallows and he helped show how wide-reaching Hagrid's ability to connect with students was. Every Weasley family member gets an arc, but Charlie was sadly left aside.
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