Actor Robbie Coltrane has been approached to play a friendly giant in the forthcoming Harry Potter film.

The 50-year-old Scot has been asked to play Hagrid in the movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.





The book is based on JK Rowling's first novel about the schoolboy wizard, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but the film will take the title of the US version of the story.

A spokesman for Coltrane, whose past credits include the ITV drama Cracker as well as the films Mona Lisa and Goldeneye, said: "Robbie is in negotations to appear in the film, but that's all we can say at this stage."

Last week Dame Maggie Smith was reported to be considering a role as the deputy head of Potter's school, Professor Minerva McGonagall.

She is presently appearing in The Lady In The Van on the London stage.

However, producers have yet to find a young actor to play Potter himself - despite being swamped by 40,000 applicants.

Coltrane's possible character, Hargid, is the gamekeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where the orphaned wizard learns his craft.



