Vladimir Putin's Supposed Resemblance To This Movie Character Almost Led To A Lawsuit
According to World O Meter, there are currently just under 8 billion people on planet Earth, and that number is rising exponentially. Inevitably, we're all bound to encounter somebody whose features resemble our own. Most of us would be overjoyed to be told that we look like somebody famous. However, depending on who that person is, the parallels one might draw between our face and a celebrity's could be construed as something of an insult.
That was certainly the case back in 2003 when Russian president Vladimir Putin noticed something strange about an all too familiar face that was being showcased in movie theaters across the world. According to Far Out magazine, Putin was hardly pleased after surmising that Warner Bros had used his face to construct the countenance of one of its fabled little creatures on the big screen. That's right — it wasn't even an actual person who the Russian leader saw his own mug reflected in — it was an elf. More specifically, a house elf.
Putin the House Elf
Really, if you take a minute to scan his face, there's a good chance you'll recognize some of Dobby the house elf's most prominent features (assuming you follow world politics). That sharp nose, those ears that seem to encroach upon the upper section of his head, the mouth that hangs in a perpetual state of dissatisfaction, the emerald green eyes ... wait, is this the estranged son of Vladimir Putin? If you're wondering whether or not the "Harry Potter" character might actually share blood with the Russian president, you're not alone.
According to The Guardian, the Children's BBC (CBBC) hosted a poll on its network shortly after "The Chamber of Secrets" was released, and apparently, 54% of participants "agreed that Putin and Dobby had probably been separated at birth." It would appear that among the 5,500 votes submitted, Putin contributed to the majority outcome — assuming he participated in the poll.
Vladimir Putin sued Warner Bros
The Russian president opted to sue Warner Bros for their seemingly scathing cinematic gesture. "Similar suits have taken place. But it's very difficult for courts to rule on them; lots of experts have to be called in. It's doubtful if it has a chance," a representative of Putin's legal team stated (via Far Out magazine). When all is said and done, there are only so many ways you can prove that a major motion picture company had it out for you and used a CGI elf by means of defaming your character. Plus, Dobby is one of the most lovable and heroic members of the "Potter" crew, so couldn't it be viewed through a positive lens as well? Not for Putin, it would seem.
In any case, the Russian leader's efforts to bring Dobby to justice proved fruitless. The lawsuit was never filed, and Putin was condemned to watch the clever little elf fight the dark lord on-screen until his tragic demise in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1".