Many scenes and events from the Harry Potter book series went through major changes (or were completely omitted) when adapted to the big screen, including the best and most important part of Peter Pettigrew a.k.a. Wormtail’s story. In 1997, readers were introduced to Harry Potter and the Wizarding World in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first entry in what would become a book series with a total of seven novels, following the story of “The Boy Who Lived” and the darkest wizard ever, Lord Voldemort.

As it happens with many other successful literary works, the Harry Potter novels were adapted to the big screen between 2001 and 2011, with the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, being split into two movies. The Wizarding World is very rich, with many places, spells, characters, and events, but there’s not enough time on screen for every one of these to be included. As a result, the Harry Potter movies had to leave many details out, and while the story can still work without some of them, there are others that were important to the arcs of the characters.

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Such is the case of Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail. Pettigrew was the biggest traitor in the Harry Potter world, as it was because of him that Voldemort got to the Potters and killed James and Lily, and attempted to kill baby Harry. Pettigrew was literally and figuratively a rat, but his best moment came right at the end of his life – and the movies decided to ignore it.

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Harry Potter Movies Ignored Wormtail’s Redemption And Death

Peter Pettigrew was one of the Marauders and therefore a close friend of Harry’s parents. He became their Secret-Keeper after Sirius Black gave up the role as he believed Pettigrew would be a less likely target of Voldemort. Little did they all know, Pettigrew was the spy amongst the group, and informed Voldemort of the Potters’ location. Following the murder of James and Lily Potter, Pettigrew framed Sirius Black and lived for years in his Animagus form: a rat. Years later, Pettigrew rejoined his master and helped him in his rebirth, during which he had to sacrifice his hand. As a reward for his assistance and loyalty, Voldemort replaced his hand with a silver one, much stronger than his natural hand.

Wormtail continued to work with the Death Eaters, and by the summer of 1997, he was staying at Malfoy Manor, which served as the headquarters of the Death Eaters. In 1998 (during the events of Deathly Hallows), Dobby apparated at the cellar in Malfoy Manor, helping free the prisoners. When Pettigrew arrived to check on them, Ron got to wrestle his wand from him, but he got to Harry and began to strangle him. Harry then reminded him that he owed him a life debt after saving him from being killed by Lupin and Sirius (back in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), and after a brief moment of mercy and hesitation, Wormtail’s silver hand turned to him and strangled him to death.

The movie, however, did things very differently. He was briefly seen at Malfoy Manor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, where he was attacked by Dobby when he arrived to help, and that’s the last time he was seen on screen. Wormtail’s original death has a lot more meaning and importance as he managed to reach even if a second of redemption before being killed for betraying his master (after living a whole life based on betrayal, really). His death in the book also implies that there was a part of him that regretted what he did to his friends, but his cowardice was bigger than anything else. It’s unknown why the Harry Potter movies decided to change this scene (and if Dobby killed him or not), but it’s most likely because the original one was too graphic for a PG-13 movie – even though worst things happen throughout the series.

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About The Author


Adrienne Tyler
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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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