Scars on Lupin

[RJLupin]

In the High Res PoA pictures from Mugglenet.com Prof. Lupin has scars liek wolf scares across his face. I don't remeber any references to scars form books, I don't know if it does anything for the plot, it seems to give it away. Check it out here...Remus J. Lupin (http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=17985/lupin.jpg)

[Nycade]

I think it was a makeup technique used to make him seem more haggard and mysterious (to make people wonder - as you did - where did he get those scars?). I'm almost 100% certain it wasn't mentioned in the books. Good question, though.

P.S. He reminds me of Kenneth Braunaugh (sp?) in that picture :elaugh:... but I doubt others will agree!

[Lanya Celebrian]

Yeah I noticed that too when I saw the image a few minutes ago! It sort of bugged me when I first saw it.... but that's just me.

[RJLupin]

It bothers me too, I didn't like all the tattoos on Sirius and now I don't liek the scars.

[Cat]

They're not in the books, but there's a little thing called artistic license. Lupin did say, in the Shrieking Shack, that as a wolf he bit and scratched at himself (causing the shrieking that gave the Shack its name).

They do help you to work out that he's a werewolf, perhaps they might make it obvious, but since they can't place emphasis on his mysterious 'illness' on film like J. K. Rowling does throughout the book, I think a constant visual reminder is an effective alternative.

[rotsiepots]

I think it's a fantastic detail to include! We know Lupin only started talking the Wolfsbane potion when he got to Hogwarts, so his transformations were probably rather turbulent prior to that. They're definitely older-looking scars, so movie Lupin must shred himself to bits when he's transformed, poor dear.

The scars aren't even that noticeable, so I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. If Alfonso had decided to include a cabbage on his head I'd be complaining, but this touch suits the character.

[ginnybatbogeysyou]

I like the 'scars'. It makes it more plausible that Lupin really is a werewolf. After all, in the books he told he scratched and bit himself.
And like Cat said: it's harder to emphasize his illness on screen than on paper.

[strwznbrry]

I agree that the scars aren't that big a deal to me. They give him character. :)

[Lone Wolf]

I think the scars are a wonderful 'extra' to Lupin's character. They show how much he must have suffered during his early transformations and mutilated himself while being locked up in the Shrieking Shack.

[Cindy]

I think the scars are just make-up to make him seem more shabby. And he said he bites himself when he's a werewolf (poor Lupin :() so I think that's where the scars came from.

[Weatherby]

I think it's a fantastic detail to include! We know Lupin only started talking the Wolfsbane potion when he got to Hogwarts, so his transformations were probably rather turbulent prior to that. They're definitely older-looking scars, so movie Lupin must shred himself to bits when he's transformed, poor dear.

The scars aren't even that noticeable, so I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. If Alfonso had decided to include a cabbage on his head I'd be complaining, but this touch suits the character.
If he couldn't tear up anyone else he probably resorted to scratching himself.

[aragog]

I actually rather like the scars for Movie Lupin... it could definitely add a bit to his character, and be a little quirk that Malfoy & Co make fun of, but the rest of the audience sympathizes with. They'd laugh at his shabby clothes and scars while we feel bad for him and end up liking him more for it. It works.

[hogwarts_princess]

I think the scars are good as it shows the pain and things that have happened in his past that the students will be talking about and asking questions. but maybe they could have been on some other part of the body like an arm for example as it would have been a but less obvious

[dumbleedore]

I like the scars- the only thing I don't agree on with Lupin is the fur he's growing- but aside from that, I reckon he's perfect.

[Neonorne]

I love the scars. No not spelled out in the book that he has scars, true. But it is practically stated indirectly. How could he NOT have gotten any scars in the Shrieking Shack every month in all those years, when it is clearly stated that he mutilates himself while he is there? I bet he has scars on other parts of his body too, yes, why not his arms.

And from the fight between him and Sirius in dog form described in the book it is pretty clear that these kinds of fights have happened before when they were young - James and Sirius must have had some hard times restraining him then too. Somehow I think that mostly must have been Sirius' job - as a dog he could best do it, more difficult for a stag to control a wolf!! Not to mention a rat....(Notice how close Sirius in his animagus form as a huge dog is to Lupin's wolf form.....)

Check out this passage from PoA:

"As the werewof wrenched itself free of he manacle binding it, the dog seized it about the neck and pulled it backwards, away from Ron and Pettigrew. They were locked, jaw to jaw, claws rippig at each other - " (PoA page 410, UK ed)

I bet he got a few scars from these fights in the past too, from both jaw and claws. I would guess that if Sirius got any scratches from it, those could well only show in his animagus form, since that transformation seems to be very different from the werewolf affliction. I mean, it seems your clothes for instance doesn't get ripped and torn or anything when you transform, neither are they left on the animal you become - they just disappear when your animal form appears, and then reappear again when you transform back to human. So I would guess this might be the case with any scars Sirius as Snuffles might have gotten from Lupin as wolf too. But for Lupin this will be different I guess - the werewolf transformation is an affliction, like a disease, not a transformation through magic.

So yeah, I would say the scars are just one tiny step from qualifying as canon. In fact, I think I could be willing to go so far as to say they ARE canon. How could Lupin with a history like his be without them?

[Dobbys_sock]

Oh, poor Remus. I love the scars...I don't think somebody could have his 'condition' and not have a few of them. I can't wait to see the film, I have always loved David Thewlis. I'm so glad that he is my beloved Lupin. :B I think Sirius' tatoos are fine, I don't see what all the fuss about them is.

[SamIAm]

wow, i never noticed the scars on Lupin.:huh:Maybe when he was in werewolf form, he had some kind of fight with another animal, so that's how he got the scar?? (im just making this up as i go along) But i LOVE the tattoos Sirius has gotten!! It adds a nice touch to his character, it was never mentioned in the book, so it was very surprising when i first saw it.

[springthing4]

i think they're trying to show that he is shabby, or visually giving away clues that he's a werewolf.

[Barbara Kennedy]

I like the fact that the scars appear to be older, fading scars that are not too blatantly visible. You might not notice them at first upon seeing him.

*Looking closely at picture.*
It looks like he tried to tear his own face off with his right hand at some time. Could it have been a reaction to the pain of the transformation?

[SilverStar]

Well the people like to change things from book to film, but I think it's appropriate.

[Rachelle]

I like the scars on Lupin. It shows how hard it's been for him his whole life, being a werewolf, like being unemployed and rideculed and such. Maybe they put them there in the film to show the audience that he's a victim of lycanthropy, not a big bad wolf. Pardon the pun.

[Tirwen Lupin]

Interesting observation! As has been said, it's probably to emphasize his illness, since it would have to be done more obviously than in the book. I think they're most likely meant to be self-inflicted when he's a werewolf without taking his potion. :(

[MnMbabe]

I agree that they are most likely wounds derived from his transformation. My guess is they are from the first time he transformed, since he had no clue what was going to happen to him, he was probably scared or confused.

[Marvolo]

I think turning into a werewolf now and then weakens your skin a bit.
I guess its only natural that he looks like he does.

[aragog]

I love the scars. No not spelled out in the book that he has scars, true. But it is practically stated indirectly. How could he NOT have gotten any scars in the Shrieking Shack every month in all those years, when it is clearly stated that he mutilates himself while he is there?
[...]
So yeah, I would say the scars are just one tiny step from qualifying as canon. In fact, I think I could be willing to go so far as to say they ARE canon. How could Lupin with a history like his be without them?

Exactly! Great post, btw. :) I think it's definitely something that really fits into JKR's idea of Lupin, though she may not have wanted to add any mention of scars because she didn't want readers to get a different sort of idea on how he looks. But given Lupin's transformations, the frequency in which he goes through what he does, and the pain he's had to endure, I'd be doubtful if he didn't have any scars.

[Lady deMimsy]

Mmm. Count me as one who doesn't like the facial scars -- they give too much of the game away, and I imagine it would be pretty difficult for a werewolf to scratch himself on the face (and physically impossible for him to bite himself), although I'm sure he'd have plenty of scars elsewhere on his body.

But oh well, I've resigned myself to not liking anything about the costuming or makeup for this film. Hope the acting's better.

[Neonorne]

Mmm. Count me as one who doesn't like the facial scars -- they give too much of the game away, and I imagine it would be pretty difficult for a werewolf to scratch himself on the face (and physically impossible for him to bite himself), although I'm sure he'd have plenty of scars elsewhere on his body.

But oh well, I've resigned myself to not liking anything about the costuming or makeup for this film. Hope the acting's better. I'm not too sure that it would be that very difficult for a werewolf to scratch himself in the face. There is a reason why you put this thing that looks like a lampshade over a dog's head when it has a wound around its head you don't want it to scratch while it heals. Then there is the chance of some agony driven facescratching during the transformation process itself. And then the fights with Sirius as dog. If the fight in PoA is anything to go by, those fights could be pretty serious. Big chance of a few scratches there.

I don't agree it gives too much away either. If you haven't read the book (and not seen any plotrevealing merchandise...) you will never guess he is a werewolf from those scars. But AFTER you have seen the transformation, you could go: of course! I like that.

But sure, I respect it if your image of Lupin was without scars. And I'm sure the acting will be good.

[Cat]

I agree that it is certainly possible and, I think, probably likely that a werewolf in transformation would scratch his own face. Lupin in the books didn't, at least not severely, otherwise the scars would have been noted, but they're a nice touch in the film nonetheless.

I do think they make Spot the Werewolf a bit obvious when coupled with Snape's pointed hints, but without them, perhaps the fact that he's a werewolf wouldn't have been foreshadowed enough. They couldn't have kept making the actor look ill/better again/ill/better again. For a start, nobody would really notice unless they over-did it. At least the scars are constant yet subtle approach. If somebody hadn't read the book and was a bit slow on the uptake, they might think the scars were being presented as a remnant of Lupin's expertise in Dark creatures.

[hesdead-dealwithit]

I personally see nothing wrong with it. As far as I can see, all there is is one large horizontal gash from is left eyebrow to right cheek and one smaller one on his left cheek. He could easily do that to himself; it could have also been done by, say, Sirius. (I'm sure it wasn't clear sailing when he was a werewolf among transformed animagi.) In fact, couldn't you say that it would be less believable without the scars?

[Cat]

In fact, couldn't you say that it would be less believable without the scars?

No, not really. It's believable either way. It seems that most wounds can be healed magically. It depends on what you think about magical healing on werewolf claw wounds.

Perhaps shapeshifters of all sorts have better recovery to flesh wounds, anyway.

It's all an open subject.

[Dedalus]

They couldn't have kept making the actor look ill/better again/ill/better again. For a start, nobody would really notice unless they over-did it. At least the scars are constant yet subtle approach. If somebody hadn't read the book and was a bit slow on the uptake, they might think the scars were being presented as a remnant of Lupin's expertise in Dark creatures.
Good point.

The scars are good not just as an extra, but as a replacement for other things. They can't keep pointing out that he looks iller (than normal) in the films, as they do in the books, and the scars serve as a constant reminder instead. Also David Thewlis looks quite young, when Lupin's face is lined, so a good few clawmarks across his face won't go amiss.

I don't think it makes it obvious he's a werewolf. I mean, how many hints were in the book? Some people guessed (myself among them), but a lot of people didn't realise until afterwards that they were there. And the ones in the book are more forward ... Snape's werewolf class and going on how shameful it was that they wouldn't know a werewolf when they saw one, Lupin's Boggart moon - Lupin's name, even! Scars are less obvious, especially when he's teaching them about all these dark creatures.

[Pallas]

I've always assumed that Lupin had scars from his transformations but probably not on his face, as they would most likely have been mentioned. But I've always assumed he must also have scars from the original werewolf attack - after all, one has to assume being bitten by a werewolf probably involves being pulled down and mauled comprehensively and since he was just a child at the time, he'd probably have been pretty badly injured. So these scars on his face in the film, if not from his own transformations, could hypothetically have come from the werewolf that attacked him in the first place.

I'm still in two minds as to whether this is a good artistic touch or a roaring great giveaway as, like Lady DeMimsy, I do have some big reservations on what I have seen so far regarding the film POA and Lupin (moustache *shudders* Nononono.... :no: :grumble: ) especially as I'm not a huge fan of David Thewlis either. :sigh: I'm just going to have to hope both he and the production team for this film of my favourite book can prove me wrong...

[Melissa28]

I think they could be self inflicted although I think Pallas makes a good point there has to be some kind of struggle when a werewolf attacks you

[Puffskein]

I've always imagined that self-inflicted werewolf wounds are healable, mainly because I don't like to think of Lupin coming back every month covered in bandages, which I think would have aroused too many suspicions to keep his secret for long. However, I appreciate that the film can't be as subtle as the book, and he doesn't look too much like Moody, so I'm fine with it.

[Pumpkin Juice]

I wonder if they're going to establish a connection between Lupin and Harry in the movie that wasn't in the book (at least that I saw). The connection being that they both have scars on their faces.

[Adalbert Waffling]

I think its a nice effect.

On a sidenote, I had always pictured Lupin as looking like Colin, from "Whose Line Is It, anyway?"(except less humorous)

[Joulez moon]

I think that the scars on his face do add a nice touch to who he is and what he has been through.
But i did notice that if you look at the very first piccy we got of Lupin the scars arent as noticable as the ones on his face in the Shrieking shack. I didint even notice he had scars on his face till i saw the shrieking shack picture.
They defiantly add a good touch to what he been through, but if you watch the trailer(Cant remember which one) you see the bottom half of his body transforms first then the rest so he could easily have held up a hand to his face not realizing that it wasnt a hand but a paw.(Poor Lupin though he does get the raw end of deals doesnt he? :upset: )

Joulez Moon