Harry Potter fans are wondering if Hermione Granger’s time turner is real after they spotted a ‘lookalike’ from the series from 119 years ago – but all is not as it seems
Harry Potter viewers have been left wondering whether the Boy Who Lived is real after spotting a ‘lookalike’ from over a century ago. The fictional wizard would have been 45 today, but his so-called doppelganger recently turned 119 – leaving some questioning whether Hermione Granger’s time turner could be responsible.
Posting to Instagram on September 25, hit classical music radio station Classic FM shared a photo said to be of Soviet-era composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich. “Happy birthday, Shostakovich! Born on this day 119 years ago,” said the caption, followed by a heart emoji. However, followers were quick to comment on how much the composer looks like Harry.
“The composer who lived,” one person wrote.
Another added: “You’re a maestro, Harry.”
Meanwhile a third chimed in: “Shostakovich and the Cursed Score,” and a fourth added: “DMITRI, DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE?”
“His music teacher, one Professor Flitwick, was most proud of the Forest Suite, evoking the many spirits and beasts inhabiting his pupil’s former school’s forbidden forest,” said someone else.
However, some eagle-eyed fans realised the photo of Shostakovich looks like Harry Potter because, well, it is Harry Potter.
The image used by Classic FM was not of Shostakovich at all, but of actor Daniel Radcliffe, who rose to fame playing the series’ titular wizard.
“He looks nothing like Daniel Radcliffe… why do they do this?? Just use an actual picture of the man ffs,” one person wrote.
Another added: “Classic FM do the same every year…the resemblance is uncanny.”
“WOW – He looks exactly like Daniel Radcliff. Who knew?” said someone else, to which someone else replied explaining the poster was “trolling” (joking).
“Google Dmitri Shostakovich, he looks similar but not THIS similar,” they added.
Shostakovich was born in 1906 and died on August 9, 1975, at the age of 68.
He rose to fame during the Russian Soviet era and was popular at the time, but he had a complex relationship with the government.
His 1934 opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk saw major success upon its initial release, but the government later condemned the composer, putting his career on the line.
Despite his tenuous relationship with the leading politicians of the time, Shostakovich managed to bag a number of important awards from the Soviet government – including the Order of Lenin.