Harry Potter film fans left traumatised by Voldemort's original design

Voldemort is one of the best known fictional villains in history and even if you have not delved into the world of Harry Potter, you probably have a pretty good idea of his frightening appearance. However, did you know that the Dark Lord was supposed to look a whole lot scarier?

As the arch-nemesis of Harry Potter across the magical franchise, Voldemort is best known for having beef with a baby and proceeding to hunt that child for the rest of its life.

Check out the trailer for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire below!

Described in the novels as having a skeletal frame, pale, waxy skin, slits for nostrils and cat-like red eyes, it was evident that Voldemort was something more than human as a result of the transformations his body had gone through over the years, courtesy of dark magic.

In comparison, Voldemort looks a lot more human in the much-loved movies, albeit a contorted version of one with the Dark Lord only retaining the book’s slit-like nose.

However, this was not always the case as Voldemort’s original design for the movies was eventually scrapped after being deemed too frightening. This is hardly surprising considering the Harry Potter franchise is primarily aimed at a younger audience.

According to the original design team, their first goal for Voldemort’s face was a lot more serpentine and not even remotely human. In addition, his snout would have been protruding with razor sharp teeth and he would sport glowing red eyes.

However, it was clear that this would have put the fear of God into its young audience so they eventually decided to calm it down and make Voldemort look a lot more human. Needless to say, it would have still been interesting to see.

In related news, fans have unearthed a dark theory that explains Voldemort’s physical return in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.