One of the things about book-to-screen adaptations that fans will likely never fully agree on is whether the actors are exactly right for the characters they're portraying. The topic of Harry, Ron and Hermione's casting for the original Harry Potter movies is tricky, I think, because on one hand, none of the actors cast for the roles perfectly fit the description, and yet, it's hard to imagine anyone else playing them. But what did J.K. Rowling think about Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint when she first met them? Apparently, she thought they were all too good-looking, but there's more to it than that.

As of this writing, I have just over an hour left of the final Harry Potter full-cast edition audiobook to listen to, and then I'll be sad it's over all over again (possibly sadder than I was while listening to that one scene in Book 6). Listening to Audible's new full-cast editions of J.K. Rowling's beloved, magical series has made me a bit nostalgic about the movies, which is how I ended up poking around in the bonus features of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. It was there that I came across the interview Daniel Radcliffe and J.K. Rowling did with each other in the 2012 bonus feature, which includes the conversation they had about her first impressions of him, Grint and Watson when they were cast to play their characters. On that subject, she started with:

While there are definitely differences between Harry and Radcliffe (like their eye color), and Ron and Grint, the differences between Watson and Hermione might be brought up the most. Hermione is described as having big teeth and bushy hair in the book. While the movies did seem to try to add some volume to her hair in the first two, let's face it, Emma Watson has always been beautiful.

Rowling brought up meeting Watson for the first time, and she prefaced this by saying it was lucky she'd met her over the phone beforehand, because it sounds like Watson exuded Hermione energy during that conversation, but didn't quite look how the writer envisioned her character. Here's how Rowling described both interactions, starting with the phone conversation:

If you're a fan of the books, you know that Hermione's appearance at the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a total glow-up. She had her teeth shrunken down a bit (following a mean spell cast on her by Malfoy that elongated them), and went to extra lengths to tame her hair for the big dance. Radcliffe brought this scene up with Rowling during their conversation, specifically questioning if they shot themselves in the foot for this scene in the movie, since she was already beautiful, to which Rowling agreed with a laugh:

Of course, Hermione was never described as ugly in the books, and Rowling made that clear by adding:

I think it's interesting what she said about the character having the choice to "become a little more groomed and glamorous." From how she put it, this was intentional for the character in the book, but I think we can all agree that it gets lost in the movie.

Hermione being a geeky girl who's brave, smart and vital to the success of so much that happens in the story is what makes her such a great character, and that's more than enough. If I recall correctly, she was actually a bit put off by how much work it took to get her hair fixed up, which seems very on brand for the character. She can make herself look glamorous if she wants to, but it's not going to be her top priority. Still, as Rowling said, "it's a film." She'll continue to see the character as she does in her imagination, the same way we can when we read the books if we want.

As much as I would've loved to see Hermione get a true glow-up in the movies, it's not a major game-changer for the plot that the film's Hermione is beautiful from the start. However, I do appreciate Rowling's sentiment here, particularly as she sounds more than satisfied with how Emma Watson played the role.

Fans already have takes about the casting for the upcoming Harry Potter TV show. And there will undoubtedly be more opinions once the series premieres this holiday season. In the meantime, I strongly encourage you to give the new Audible full-cast audiobooks a shot if you're a fan of the books and/or love audiobooks. I've had so much fun listening to them. It's almost like getting to experience the story all over again.

The Harry Potter movies will always have a cultural legacy. Warner Bros. took a whole decade to film the series, creating J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World detailed down to Dumbledore’s half moon glasses. However, the craziest part of it all was watching the main cast grow up before our eyes. Now, as HBO repeats the process with its own book to screen adaptation of the magical franchise with a Potter TV show, Daniel Radcliffe says there is one big thing he and his former co-stars are bonding over.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson's careers were launched due to their roles as Harry, Ron and Hermione, respectively. Much like the new actors stepping into their former characters, Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Arabella Stanton (Hermione), and Alastair Stout (Ron), the original trio were ages 10-12 when they were cast in the titular roles. People recently asked Radcliffe if he’s talked to Watson and Grint about the new TV series, and the Weird actor said there was one thing they all connected with:

The former child co-stars might not have talked with each other much, but a few of the OG Harry Potter actors have sent letters to their younger counterparts, including Daniel Radcliffe. However, the Merrily We Roll Along actor says he doesn’t need to ask Watson or Grint on their feelings, as he already knows. Radcliffe also shared another sweet sentiment regarding their successors:

Imagine if as an adult, you had the chance to give your 11-year-old self advice about the next 10 years of their life. That's not the exact case here, of course, but it's cool that the OGs are now having such feelings due to the new show. Rupert Grint said the TV casting announcement took him straight back to his own Ron casting in 1999, and how exciting yet challenging the journey that followed was. In many cases, actions can speak louder than words and, given the circumstances, I think a hug is appropriate.

Who knows when McLaughlin and his predecessor might get to finally meet in person, but the sentiment from Radcliffe is sweet. I do appreciate that a lot of the OG Harry Potter actors are giving the new generation space to find their own place in the Wizarding World. The Harry Potter movies were so immersive and successful, there’s already a pressure to match the standard set, if not exceed it, without the former actors telling you how to play your role.

I personally would love to see a red carpet meet-up involving the new and veteran casts when the HP show premieres in early 2027. But, given some of the OG stars have had somewhat tense relations with author and series EP J.K. Rowling over her controversial comments, there’s no guarantee Radcliffe, Watson, or Grint would show up.

However, they clearly are very supportive of the young actors carrying on Harry Potter’s legacy. As a fan myself, I am curious to see how HBO puts its spin on this fictional universe.

All the Harry Potter movies are available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, and you can also catch Daniel Radcliffe in the new NBC series, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, which is now airing as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

There are major franchises, and then there's the global appeal of the Wizarding World. The Harry Potter movies are a big reason for this, alongside the books, theme parks, stage plays, video games, and the developing TV show (which will be streaming with a HBO Max subscription). Actor Rupert Grint famously played Ron Weasley throughout all eight movies, and revealed he went "straight back to '99" upon seeing the trio of young leading actors get announced.

What we know about the Harry Potter TV show is limited, but fans of the novels are expecting a more accurate book to screen adaptation. In an interview with Variety about his career, Grint shared what it was like seeing the casting announcement for the new Harry, Hermione, and Ron. In his words:

Honestly, this makes a ton of sense. The Harry Potter cast grew up before our eyes, and landing the role back in 1999 would start a long journey in Hogwarts. So it's understandable that Grint was brought back when the new leading actors were announced. One has to assume their lives are going to change drastically as well.

Despite Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 premiering back in 2011, the franchise's actors remain synonymous with their magical roles. Rupert Grint has worked in plenty of TV, film, and stage projects since then, but he's still Ron. Later in the same interview, he shared what it was like filming those movies for a decade, getting honest with:

I have to assume that the new cast might end up feeling similarly, especially given how long they'll be playing their roles in the Harry Potter TV show. We'll just have to wait and see as they grow up along with their signature characters.

I have to wonder if Grint would have any advice about becoming famous as a young person to Alastair Stout, who is taking on the role of Ron. It's currently unclear if they've had any contact.

Anticipation for the Potter series is building, but unfortunately it's not expected to arrive as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Instead the show, which is still filming its first season, is expected to be released sometime in 2027. But that gives folks time to re-read the books in preparation.

After getting dropped from projects amid his defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp's Hollywood comeback continues via his role in a holiday movie. Depp is playing the titular character in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol and is teaming up with A+ horror director, Ti West for the film. Anyone who's curious about how Depp will be approaching the role of Scrooge should know that his co-star, Rupert Grint, has two specific adjectives to describe his work.

It's understandable as to why some may be excited Johnny Depp’s comeback. As Depp's proven with his greatest roles, he has a zany sense of versatility and seemingly limitless range. While speaking with THR, Rupert Grint, who is just one great member of Depp’s best co-star lineup in ages, dropped a pair of keen words when talking up Depp's performance, and I'm intrigued:

“Amazing” and “interesting” are perfect words to describe Johnny Depp. He has an uncanny talent for making each character his own and for completely disappearing into a character. Whether Depp portrays an eccentric outsider in Edward Scissorhands, a haunted antihero in Sweeney Todd, or a frustrated small-town guy in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, he brings something new to each character he plays.

The notion of Depp putting his spin on Ebenezer Scrooge is also interesting. It’s also refreshing that a horror director like Ti West will be bringing his signature directorial style to the Charles Dickens adaptation. West's hiring does make sense, especially given the holiday classic is supposed to be a ghost story. Given the light tones presented in the best Christmas Carol movie adaptations, the horror fan in me would love to see how West could put a spookier spin on this beloved story.

As alluded to, Johnny Depp will be joined by a roster of stellar actors, including Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Tramell Tillman, Daisy Ridley and Ian McKellen. Rupert Grint went on to admit that he was a bit starstruck by McKellen:

The British actor speaks the truth. As McKellen has dabbled in Shakespeare, Marvel and Dickens’ David Copperfield BBC adaptation, the knighted actor is another example of a performer who usually does no wrong in his roles.

All in all, this is shaping up to be an interesting production, and I'm curious to see what Johnny Depp and the rest of the cast bring under West's direction. We'll see if Depp's performance really is as "amazing" and "interesting" as Grint teases. Check out Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol when it opens in theaters on November 13th as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

You can take Draco Malfoy out of Tom Felton, but the British actor could not escape the Slytherin baddie. Harry Potter fans freaked out when Felton reprised Malfoy in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and can you blame them? But will his former co-star Rupert Grint do the same? Our favorite ginger-haired actor recently gave his candid answer.

Tom Felton basically never left The Wizarding World after the Harry Potter films ended in 2011 (all of which are available to streaming with a HBO Max subscription). He’s maintained ties back to his infamous wizard role through his Instagram posts, a memoir, and emotionally stepping into Draco Malfoy’s shoes again for the Cursed Child play. As for how Rupert Grint felt about the idea of his former co-star returning to his magical roots, he shared his delightful answer to BBC News:

Aww, what a loyal pal Rupert Grint is. It’s always great to see former Harry Potter co-stars rooting their separate projects. Jason Isaacs did the same thing in showing up for his movie son and saying “he conquered” playing Draco Malfoy all over again. It looks like the Malfoys will always have a connection on and off-screen.

Back in 2019, the Sick Note actor expressed that while he felt Cursed Child was a “genius” play, he didn’t know if he’d ever see himself returning as Ron Weasley. While Tom Felton isn’t stepping away from the magical world of Harry Potter anytime soon, is the ginger-haired actor willing to step back into it? Here was his candid response:

I understand where Grint is coming from. As he played Harry Potter’s best friend for ten years, it makes sense why he’d want to move on from it. At the same time, his connection to the fantasy series will never be over, as he finally re-watched the movies with his two kids. Grint opened up about his first baby already being a fan with her own wand and a Ron Weasley Pez dispenser. That’s too cute for words!

Rupert Grint may not be returning as Ron Weasley, but he does have exciting non-wizard projects in the works. This includes the drama-thriller Nightborn about a couple who notice something very disturbing about their newborn child. The talented actor also has a new Scrooge movie lined up with Johnny Depp that has a star-studded ensemble cast to look forward to. Grint is clearly stirring up magic of his own without having to wear the wizard robes.

Even though Rupert Grint isn’t pulling a Tom Felton anytime soon, it doesn’t mean the magical role has left his heart or his kids. The spirit of Ron Weasley clearly still exists with his new family. Make sure to catch Felton in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing on Broadway until May 2026.

Since the Depp v. Heard trial ended in June 2022, Johnny Depp has seemingly been ready to make a major Hollywood return. He's already filmed one new movie, Marc Webb’s Day Drinker, and he’ll also be teaming up with great horror director Ti West for A Christmas Carol. Not only am I excited to see Depp play the grouchy Ebenezer Scrooge, but his roster of co-stars may be the best ensemble he's worked alongside in years.

Johnny Depp’s greatest roles have placed him in some pretty sweet ensemble films like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more. But his holiday film is seemingly matching those films when it comes to start. It was recently reported by Deadline that Daisy Ridley and Rupert Grint are among the latest to join Ti West’s Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol. And that news comes after the initial bits of casting news, which were already impressive. Check out the list:

• Ian McKellen
• Daisy Ridley
• Rupert Grint
• Sam Chaflin
• Charlie Murphy
• Andrea Riseborough
• Tramell Tillman
• Ellie Bamber
• Arthur Conti

There are so many familiar faces in this group, and this is making me really excited for West’s adaptation. Ian McKellen is known for his Shakespearean work and the grounded presence he brings to his roles. While we don’t yet know which role the X-Men actor is taking on, I can definitely picture him playing one of the spirits (maybe Jacob Marley?) that shows Scrooge the error of his ways.

Daisy Ridley would also make a great spirit. Her star power shone as Jedi prodigy Rey in the Star Wars movies, and she’s got a genuine commanding vibe through which she can also exude genuine warmth that audiences connect to. British stars like Sam Claflin and Andrea Riseborough have both played natural, flawed characters, too, that make audiences root hard for them.

I’m also very excited that Rupert Grint has been cast in the Christmas flick. While he started as a child star in the Harry Potter movies, he’s since moved into creepy projects like the Apple TV+ series Servant and M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin. Deadline’s sources say that Grint’s unconfirmed role could be Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s selfless employee. That would certainly track, given Grint seems to be around the right age for the role, and he can give off the noble vibes that have long been associated with Cratchit.

While A Christmas Carol may be the story of Ebenezer Scrooge undergoing a major character transformation, it's also a story with a plethora of key supporting roles. So I can understand why West would want to seek out such strong actors to fill out his cast. Given the stars involved, I’m confident that their unique energy and range will complement Depp well and bring about a chemistry that will make this latest Charles Dickens adaptation memorable.

It, of course, remains to be seen how this film might actually perform but, at least right now, it does indeed mark a big step for Johnny Depp as he seeks to settle back into his work in Hollywood. Time will tell what Ti West's vision yields and how Depp and his talented co-stars will approach their roles. Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol opens in theaters on November 13th as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

The Harry Potter movies turned three young, unknown actors into global movie stars. There’s a pretty solid chance that the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, which will be available with an HBO Max subscription, will do the same thing for the three unknowns cast in its lead roles. The father of Emma Watson certainly understands this better than most, as his daughter’s success also changed his life, so he has some advice for the parents of the new stars.

Speaking with Times Radio (via The Independent), Chris Watson gave his support to the parents of the young stars who were chosen to play Harry, Ron, and Hermione. While the newfound celebrity will surely be difficult for Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout, it will also be something for their parents to navigate, which Watson admitted could be “scary” for all involved. He revealed…

The lives of these three actors are about to change in a big way, and that means the lives of the entire families are going to change as well. As exciting as it is, it’s not hard to see why it’s also scary. All three of the actors who starred in the films have spoken about how the fame surrounding Harry Potter changed them, and how it hasn’t always been for the best. Daniel Radcliffe admitted to using alcohol to cope.

Chris Watson, however, may have one of the best solutions to helping to deal with the celebrity of the whole thing. It seems he doesn’t really watch the films; it’s unclear if he’s ever seen them. Apparently Emma Watson’s parents have never made the movies a big deal themselves, which may have helped Watson not get too overwhelmed by it all growing up. He continued…

At this point, it feels like Emma Watson’s dad may be the only person on the planet who doesn’t watch the Harry Potter movies. The franchise is still incredibly popular, which is exactly why we’re getting this reboot of it all in the first place. A year from now, we can expect to see the faces of these three actors pretty much everywhere. One hopes that they, and their families, are ready for it all.

History has no shortage of child actors who had a hard time transitioning into adulthood, with or without the same stardom. All three of the original Harry Potter stars were able to do it, so listening to whatever advice is available probably isn’t a terrible thing for the new stars and their parents to do.

No matter how hard it may be for some people to accept it, the former child stars of the Harry Potter film franchise aren’t kids anymore. In fact, a few of them have since become parents, as Daniel Radcliffe is officially a dad to a son born in 2023, while Rupert Grint and his partner, Georgia Groome, welcomed a baby girl in May 2020. Well, now, Groome and Grint have another little one, as they’ve just announced the arrival of their second child – another girl. Grint dropped a sweet pic, and Potter fans dropped in plenty of lovely responses.

Fans have now been formally introduced (by way of an Instagram post) to Goldie G. Grint. Rupert, who notably played Ron Weasley in the Wizarding World franchise, dropped the photo on Sunday. His snapshot doesn’t reveal his daughter’s face entirely, though his followers can see her red and chubby cheeks, which are absolutely adorable. She also seems to be laying on a leopard-print hoodie of sorts while sporting a gray sweater and a shirt with her name on it. Check out the photo for yourself:

Cue all of the “awwwsss”! That’s an adorable little baby, and this is a sweet way for the British actor to “slightly” reveal his and his partner’s latest bundle of joy. I can’t help but smile when seeing the photo, and I’m also chuckling over her dad’s assessment that she’s a 10/10 baby so far. Evidently, I’m not the only one who’s pleased with this news, as many others shared their well wishes. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that plenty of users made Harry Potter references while reaching out as well:

• ANOTHER WEASLEY! - diarioelprofeta
• Congratulations! Another member of the Weasley household 🧡 - phelps.felton_
• Another weasley eh? better be GRYFFINDOR!! 🦁 congratsssss ❤️❤️ - damn.sociopath
• Congratulations, Rupert and Georgia! ❤️ I wish you all the best and I’m so happy for you! That’s a beautiful name that’s for sure. - rupertlloydgrintfacts
• Ahh another Weasley I know just what to do with you Gryffindor!!🦁⚔️ - koumanehyassin

Many of the comments seem to be paraphrasing the iconic Sorting Hat, who’s voiced by the late Leslie Phillips in the film series. The enchanted hat decides which of the four houses Hogwarts students will be placed in upon the beginning of their first year. Considering the birth of the Servant star’s latest child, I’d say these comments are quite appropriate.

Logically, it’s natural that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and co. are old enough to be parents themselves now. However, it’s still a somewhat surreal idea to wrap one’s head around, especially if you grew up watching them on screen. Even Radcliffe can’t believe he and some of his co-stars are parents now. Grint, for his part, is also father to daughter Wednesday, whom he’s starting to show Harry Potter clips to.

It goes without saying that congratulations are definitely in order for Rupert Grint and Georgia Groome as they welcome their child. Here’s hoping that the family will have some beautiful memories together in the years to come. There’s certainly joy to be found in the fantastical stories that Grint helped bring to life. However, that pales in comparison to the sheer magic that can come with the journey that is parenthood.

You can stream the Harry Potter films for yourself right now using a Max subscription. (Warning: Given that two of the main three child actors are now parents, you might feel a bit old while screening them.)

HBO’s Harry Potter series is off to the races. After months of casting rumors, some of Hogwarts' core faculty and staff have been cast, and we know the series will be filmed at the same studio where the OG movies were made. However, now there’s a new rumor going around about this project, as it’s been claimed that Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were not formally informed that this new series was happening.

Apparently, the first Harry, Ron and Hermione to grace our screens are being kept in the dark about this whole situation. In a report from The Daily Mail, it was alleged that Radcliffe, Watson and Grint were not informed that the remake was even happening before it was officially announced. According to an insider, that is “heartbreaking,” as they explained:

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were all the age of the first years when they began their journey in the Wizarding World, and they spent a decade in it as they made the Harry Potter films. To this day, they are all frequently asked about it, and this franchise serves as the biggest moment in their careers.

According to this insider, when it comes to the next iteration of Harry Potter, the original cast members “are a mere afterthought.” Apparently, they have “no involvement” in what’s coming next, and this is a totally new chapter:

According to the report, once the Harry Potter team finishes auditioning thousands of kids and picks their new trio, the first Harry, Ron and Hermione will not be informed about it. It would seem that they will find out the same way everyone else will, through the public announcement.

It’s well known that the books' author, J.K. Rowling, is involved in this new series. It’s also known that her views on women’s and trans rights have caused a lot of controversy. Over the years, the original Harry Potter cast has reacted to those views, and some, including Daniel Radcliffe, have spoken out against her.

Apparently, the author wants to fully move on from the movies, as the source claimed:

Overall, it would appear the trio does not have a say or knowledge about the upcoming series. However, they do get asked about it, and that will likely continue. Daniel Radcliffe has already been asked if he’d make a cameo, and as he continues to act and promote his work – and this goes for Watson, Grint, and the rest of the movies' cast too – he’ll likely get questions about it again.

So, as the Harry Potter series chugs along, and the original cast continues working on their own projects, we’ll keep you posted about how this new venture into the Wizarding World and the original films collide (or don’t). In the meantime, the original cinematic franchise can be revisited with either a Max subscription or a Peacock subscription.

J.K. Rowling created a slew of wonderful, quirky, sometimes-aggravating and cool characters when she created the Harry Potter universe, but she says now that AI is a thing, the fans have gotten a little weird. After one of them sent her a picture of herself and a much younger, ginger-haired may, she opened up about the implications of AI as well as well as her “ideal of beauty.” And in case you wondered, she’s not jonesing after a man who looks like Ron Weasley.

So, how did JK Rowling admitting she wouldn’t be into a young man like Ron Weasley even come up? Apparently, she came across an AI image that struck her as odd and tweeted about it.

To be honest, celebrities have varying feelings about Artificial Intelligence. Celebs like Scarlett Johansson have spoken out about the “misuse” of AI in the past. Stars like Ben Affleck have been a little less concerned, citing the creative needs of movies as taking precedent over what computers can produce. But for JK Rowling, it’s seemingly more about getting the facts straight.

A fan later asked the author, “Wait, what’s wrong with gingers?” She then clarified her feelings about AI (but also Ron Weasley) in the process.

Of course, it's also worth pointing out Ron was still a kid in the Harry Potter books. According to the Harry Potter timeline, he’d currently be at the ripe old age of 45 if the timeline of the books holds true. JK Rowling herself is 59 at this point, so there’d still be quite an age gap between the two if Ron Weasley were a real life person and not a fictional character. That's not her cup of tea, though it's worth pointing out Grint thinks Ron and Hermione would have divorced. So, fictionally speaking, Ron could be single and ready to mingle.

In real life, the actor who portrayed Ron in the movies, Rupert Grint, is only 36. Not that anyone is suggesting JK Rowling and Grint hook up. Rowling is married to Dr. Neil Murray and Grint has a lovely wife named Georgia Groome. The two even became parents a few years ago.

Regardless, AI has wide-ranging implications, and what the author seems to be saying here is if it were up to the technology, she’d be married to someone who is a redhead her son’s age, and that doesn’t feel accurate or pleasant. It’s a bit of a weird thing to have come up in the realm of AI, but I guess the point is that AI has a lot of real-life entanglements we may not have considered back when Steven Spielberg was putting together his own AI movie in 2001.

The Harry Potter movies certainly had a lot of emotional moments. We're talking heartbreaking Wizarding World deaths or when things didn’t go according to plan in the fight against Voldemort. In real life, the cast of Harry Potter did have a lot of funny moments on the set that are worth looking back on. A behind-the-scenes video revealed the time when Rupert Grint even fooled Daniel Radcliffe while dressed as a Death Eater on set. I’ve got to say, watching it is totally priceless!

If you recall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (which went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, so I know a lot of you have seen it) sees Ron and Hermione disguise themselves while Harry hides under his Invisibility Cloak to break into Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

Hermione drinks Polyjuice Potion to look like Bellatrix Lestrange and Ron disguises himself as a Death Eater. Harry revealed in a deleted scene he wouldn’t have recognized him if he didn’t know Ron, and now fans can see the moment play out in real life via a BTS Instagram video where Daniel Radcliffe also lacks recognition.

As you can see, Rupert Grint went full-out in disguise wearing (what he believes was) Gary Oldman’s old wig when he played Sirius Black, as well as donning a full beard and darkened eyebrows. As the British actor is known for his ginger hair, he said he walked past plenty of people on set who had no idea it was him. Even Daniel Radcliffe couldn’t identify his Harry Potter chum, and he'd known him for a decade at that point.

The cast and crew of Harry Potter have worked together for so many years, and there are a lot more fun, feel-good moments out there. For example, there was a time when Alan Rickman and Michael Gambon pranked Daniel Radcliffe with a farting machine to make everyone think he was flatulent! There were also some adorable videos of the young cast just being kids, including Tom Felton messing around on the Prisoner of Azkaban set with a giant yo-yo and a throwback video of Felton and Emma Watson playing a hand game during a set break. Cute moments like this show how the Harry Potter set was like a second home to these child actors.

I love seeing Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe’s interactions with each other. As we saw in BTS videos and during the Harry Potter 10th anniversary reunion, you can see the deep friendship the two shared playing young wizards. It still feels fresh to fans, and Grint has previously said he loved his bond with Radcliffe and Emma Watson. With a new Harry Potter TV series coming into play, it looks like a brand new cast of young British actors will know what it’s like to step into big shoes like the OG trio once did.

If Rupert Grint were able to fool Daniel Radcliffe with his clever Death Eater disguise, we clearly need to give hair and makeup a round of applause. The Wizarding World may have a Polyjuice Potion to cleverly mix up magical folk, but Hollywood’s got their own brand of magic that can transform actors so well even their co-stars don’t recognize them, and they don't get enough random lauds.

You can watch the memorable Deathly Hallows: Part 2 scene and the rest of the Harry Potter films with your Peacock subscription or your Max subscription. And don’t forget to add the upcoming adapted TV series to your watchlist in 2026!

As thousands of kids audition for HBO’s Harry Potter show and casting rumors continue to come out about the adult characters, fans are discussing what changes they’d be OK with and elements that must stay the same. Overall, the general consensus seems to be that differences in characters' looks are totally fine as long as whoever is cast has the same energy as the witch, wizard or muggle they’ll be playing. However, there is one physical attribute many would like to stay the same, and that’s, of course, the notion that the Weasleys must be ginger.

When asked about the show’s commitment to inclusive and diverse casting on Reddit, fans responded with their takes. For the most part, they just want the ensemble to have the same energy as the beloved characters from the books. However, one non-negotiable for many has to do with the Weasley family’s hair color, as Reddit user tone-of-surprise wrote:

Ron Weasley and his large family are famously gingers. That’s how it is in the books, and that’s how it is in the Harry Potter movies (which you can watch with a Max subscription or Peacock subscription) too.

In the same way we associate Harry’s round glasses or Malfoy’s stark white hair with their characters, the same can be said about the Weasley family and their red hair. So, while many are willing and ready to accept changes in casting for this upcoming book-to-screen adaptation, the gingers must stay, as many fans wrote:

• I couldn't care less what race they are. Only that weasleys are ginger. -Asdam90
• As long as Harry has the same color eyes as Lily (don't even care if they're green), Ron is a ginger and Hermione has large front teeth, this is a non-issue for me. -LibraLynx98
• …If Ron doesn't have straight-up fiery red hair, I'm still good with any other shade of ginger. -Scipios_Rider16
• I wouldn't mind anything. The Percy Jackson series pulled off a cast which looks nothing like their characters by using the good acting. I would just want the Weasleys to be redheads. -Annabeth_McGrace

I’ll be the first to admit that it’s hard to fathom the Weasleys with another hair color. Rupert Grint and the Weasley actors in the cast of Harry Potter all rocked the red hair in the films, and they looked perfect. Seeing anything else would be jarring.

However, I trust HBO to make the right decisions and cast the perfect actors for the parts. If that means changing hair color, so be it.

So far, I’ve been on board with the casting rumors that have come out and the changes they’d make. For instance, Paapa Essiedu, who is Black, is rumored to be playing Snape, a character who was white in the films. However, he fits the age range of the potions master, and his filmography tells me he’d play this emotionally complex professor brilliantly. Overall, I love the idea of seeing a more diverse set of actors in these roles, and I’m not married to one specific physical attribute or race for most of them.

However, admittedly, I can agree with the fans that when it comes to the Weasleys, they should be ginger if possible.

While the Harry Potter movies were a massive success in so many ways that it’s difficult to count, nobody had quite the experience of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The three young children became movie stars and household names thanks to leading the Harry Potter cast. Knowing that, it’s not exactly a shock that a lot of kids have auditioned for the main three roles in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, which will be available for those with a Max subscription in a few years. However, the actual number is still stunning.

Francesca Gardiner, the showrunner for the forthcoming Harry Potter series, recently told Deadline that she received 32,000 auditions for the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione alone. Needless to say, that number is staggering. While the numbers are probably not evenly split among the three leads, you’re still looking at something like 10,000 auditions for each of the three characters.

How Do You Even Review 32,000 Auditions?

I don't even know how you review 32,000 audition tapes. Simply watching the tapes, if you gave each one five minutes, it would take you more than 111 days, and that assumes that you didn’t sleep and watched them 24 hours a day. If you plan to get any rest, it’s going to take even longer.

After watching the tapes, you’re still going to have a pool of potential candidates that you want to audition in person. And when you’re starting with 10,000 candidates per role, that pool could still be significant. Even if you have a clear favorite based on the tapes, you probably want to see their performance in person to make sure you’re on the right track. This is going to take some time.

On the plus side, while we almost certainly won’t recognize the names of the actors who are chosen when they are finally revealed, they certainly will have proven themselves to a significant extent considering they were picked out of a massive crowd.

Some Harry Potter Casting Is Reportedly Already Underway

It will likely still take several more months for the new Harry, Ron, and Hermione to be chosen based on the massive number of auditions to go through. However, the casting of other roles for the series, which is scheduled to begin filming next summer, is reportedly already underway.

Two major characters have reportedly been offered to actors, though it doesn’t appear that agreements have been reached.

Mark Rylance is reportedly being eyed for Dumbledore. The Hogwarts Headmaster was played originally by Richard Harris in the films, and then by Michael Gambon following Harris’ death.

Meanwhile, Paapa Essiedu has reportedly been offered the role of Severus Snape, who was played memorably by Alan Rickman in the original films. Essiedu’s casting would show a commitment to greater diversity compared to the films as well as confirm the plan to create a more book-faithful version of the characters, by casting Snape closer to his age in the books.

I do not envy those who will be working through 32,000 audition tapes to find the next Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They likely aren’t doing anything else right now. Eventually, however, they’re going to make three child actors very happy.

There are are popular franchises, and then there's megahits like Harry Potter. Starting with the novels, the Wizarding World has grown into theme park attractions, stage plays, video games, and of course the films (which are streaming with a Max subscription). The Harry Potter cast grew up in front of our eyes, especially its leading trio Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. But will the latter have a not-so-Merry Christmas after Grint was slapped with a bill after paying his Harry Potter taxes wrong. Let's break it all down.

Rupert Grint spent years playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, and he's still synonymous with playing that beloved Gryffindor. While most people would assume that the trio of leading actors might be set for life financially, but residuals can be complicated. And a report by People claims that Grint is going to have to pony up millions in back taxes related to that money.

According to this report, Grint recently lost a case against British tax authorities, who are claiming that he used a financial loophole to hold onto more of his Harry Potter residuals. And now the Servant actor has been reportedly been ordered to pay a whopping £1.8 million (which comes out to over $2 million in USD) in back taxes. That's quite the sum of money, especially during The Holidays when money is often a difficult thing to come by for people.

At the time of writing this story, Rupert Grint's team hasn't issued any sort of official response to this ruling. But it's definitely going to turn a few heads, thanks to just how much money the 36 year-old actor seemingly needs to pay. It sounds like keeping one's finances in order isn't exactly a magical experience.

Of course, this isn't the only relevant news to those who love the Wizarding World. Generations of fans are waiting for news about the developing Harry Potter TV series, which is going to be heading to Max. Fans are wondering about who might be the new Ron Weasley, and if any of the OG cast could end up playing adult roles. Unfortunately, the powers that be at Max have been keeping their cards close to the chest.

Another ongoing conversation about the Harry Potter franchise is whether or not a movie adaptation of The Cursed Child will ever be made. The stage play follows Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco's kids at Hogwarts years after the events of the original series. This project would presumably allow for the movie cast to reprise their roles as adults, but only time will tell if/when that actually happens.

The Harry Potter franchise is currently streaming on Max. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

This week, Dame Maggie Smith died at the age of 89. A celebrated actress, she was known for her iconic stage work as well as her performances in the Harry Potter films as Professor McGonagall and in Downton Abbey as Violet Crawley. Following her passing, many former co-stars have shared memories of Smith, including her scene partners on Downton, which she starred in throughout the series’ run. Now, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Tom Felton are paying tribute to the beloved Smith.

The Harry Potter movies were well cast. Child actors like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint were at the forefront, but acclaimed British actors like Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman and of course, Maggie Smith were supporting players. The younger stars may not have realized they were working with such titanic talents at the time but later learned to appreciate the experience. Watson noted this in her tribute to Smith. The Hermione Granger actress shared a wholesome BTS photo of the two of them on her Instagram story and said:

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, also paid tribute to the late legend. He reflected on her fierce and funny presence on set as well as her immense talent. He also shared a photo of the two of them from a particularly memorable moment scene in Goblet of Fire, where Maggie Smith’s McGonagall teaches Ron to dance. You can see the photo and his message in the Instagram post below:

Tom Felton may have played the antagonistic Draco Malfoy in the Potter films, but his relationship with the rest of the cast was far from contentious. He shared his own special relationship with the late Sister Act star, who he said looked after the young cast from the very beginning. He chose to post one of his earliest scenes with his iconic co-star for his tribute on Instagram. Check out Felton's post, which calls back to a key moment from The Sorcerer's Stone:

The Secret Garden star clearly had an undeniably strong and inspiring presence on the Potter set, leaving a mark that will surely last for decades. The Oscar winner not only had a lasting impact on the Harry Potter cast, who learned from her over the years, but also on the audiences she shared her tremendous acting talent with. Smith was a once-in-a-generation performer, with a body of work that can’t be rivaled. She will be dearly missed by many.

You can revisit Dame Maggie Smith’s incredible performance in the Harry Potter movies now using a Max subscription. Fans of the actress should also consult our feature on the best movies and TV shows starring Smith, which includes a body of work spanning decades.

We here at CinemaBlend continue to send our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of the iconic actress during this time.

The Harry Potter movies made stars of many young actors, chief among them, the main trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermionie, played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. Almost as soon as the movies (which are streaming with a Max subscription) ended, fans wondered if we might see the actors play these iconic roles again, and the more evidence that we get, the more I think that they absolutely are going to return, and very soon, not in a movie, but in Epic Universe’s new Wizarding World dark ride.

While it has yet to be announced that the Harry Potter trio will be returning to the Wizarding World, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before that happens. We have regularly seen the actors from the films reprise their roles in the Universal Orlando theme park attractions when it’s appropriate and we already know that will be the case with the newest Wizarding World land.

Another Harry Potter Movie Star Will Return For The Battle At The Ministry Of Magic Attraction 

Over the last several months Universal Orlando Resort has told us almost everything we need to know about the Epic Universe theme park opening next year. The last land officially announced was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, a land which will combine the two eras of Harry Potter on the big screen, with some elements set in the worlds of the Fantastic Beasts movies, and others in the main Harry Potter series.

The main attraction in the new land will be a new dark ride set inside the British Ministry of Magic. The story will take place around the trial of Dolores Umbridge. It has now been confirmed by Universal Orlando in a video that Dame Imelda Staunton will reprise her role as Umbridge from the films for the attraction.

The other thing we know about the attraction is that Harry, Ron, and Hermione will all be part of it as well. The official description of the attraction says…

So if we’re joining Harry, Ron, and Hermione, then they will obviously appear in the attraction in some form. If that’s the case, somebody will need to play those parts, whether in person as characters on a screen, or possibly as voicing animatronics.

The promotional image for the new land also includes Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint all in character. It also includes Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, and while that could all be marketing, it has been confirmed that Redmayne will appear in the new land as well.

Battle At The Ministry Of Magic Is Essentially A Sequel To The Films 

The trial of Dolores Umbridge isn’t part of any of the books or movies that most fans know. The event officially takes place sometime after the death of Voldemort. We also know from the same video, that elements of the attraction queue will reveal that Harry, Ron, and Neville Longbottom have all begun training as Aurors at the Ministry of Magic, which explains why they are present during the trial. It will also justify why Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson, should they appear could look significantly older.

The Harry Potter trio appears in other attractions in the two existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands at Universal Orlando. In some of them the actors played their parts, in others they were recreated via CGI with voice actors. So either could be done with the new attraction.

If the Battle at the Ministry of Magic Attraction is essentially a post-script to the Harry Potter films, then it would be fitting for the attraction to be a similar finale for the actors as well. They would be conspicuous by their absence, and fans will ultimately be disappointed if they have to be played by others, or if the story is forced to avoid ever showing them, despite the fact they are present.

All three actors are regularly asked if they could return to their Harry Potter roles again. None of them have ever completely written off the idea. Returning in a theme park attraction may be the best possible solution. It wouldn't require as much work from the actors as a full movie would need, but the ride will stand for decades, allowing Harry, Ron, and Hermione to live on.

With Epic Universe set to open in the summer of 2025, there’s still plenty of time to announce the official return of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. Such an announcement will be a big deal, which is likely why it hasn't been announced yet. It will deserve its own moment.

After working on the eight movies over the course of 10 years, the Harry Potter cast was making pretty good cash. The stars of the film ended up raking in the doe, making millions. When they were first cast as children, it was hard to wrap their heads around that kind of financial security. They were asked as kids what they would do with their earnings and in true Hermione fashion, Emma Watson knew exactly how she’d handle her money. However, Rupert Grint’s adorably “Ron” answer takes the cake.

In 2000, a press conference was held with the young stars of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone where they were asked all sorts of questions about the movie franchise, and becoming movie stars as pre-teens. In a newly resurfaced Instagram clip, Daniel Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint were all asked during the conference what they would do with their actor salaries for the movie. Watson, who was 10 at the time, was adorably practical, saying:

This is a pretty smart response for such a young girl, who understood the major responsibility such a paycheck was at her age. Grint however had a much sillier take on the question, saying that his newfound wizard status made “Muggle” money confusing. The 12 year old said:

For context, in the Harry Potter world, Muggles are what they call non-magical people. Grint’s response is its own brand of clever, knowing how to cutely answer a question he didn’t quite have the answer for. When he actually did get his hefty payday, Grint famously used it to buy an ice cream truck. He basically bought the thing that every child wishes they could, and made it a reality. I’m sure he saved up a lot of it as well, once he finally did understand “Muggle” money, but the fun purchases are always the most exciting to hear about.

The real question is, how much did the cast actually make for participating in eight Harry Potter movies? Apparently Radcliffe, who played the titular role, was paid between $145,000 and $1 million for the first film. That salary increased of course, and by the last two films, the Harry Potter actor was making $20 million per movie. Watson and Grint were also paid handsomely, each making $15 million a film by the end of the run. This doesn’t account for backpay, as the cast also continue to get checks in the mail from the numerous times the Harry Potter movies are played on TV or streamed.

If they all invested their money and kept it safe in a bank, as Watson claims was her intention, they all made the kind of cash that would allow them to never work again. However, they all decided to continue acting, as Radcliffe became a prolific stage actor and starred in movies like Swiss Army Man and The Lost City. Watson has been in films like Beauty and the Beast and Little Women, while Grint starred in the AppleTV+ series, Servant , and was a part of the Knock at the Cabin ensemble cast. Not bad for a bunch of Muggles.

You can revisit this Golden Trio of actors in the Harry Potter movies, which are now streaming with a Peacock subscription. For more information on what other flicks are available on the service, make sure to check out our feature on great movies streaming on Peacock.

There are few franchises quite as popular as Harry Potter. What started with J.K. Rowling's novels have grown into theme parks, stage plays, and (of course) movies. The eight original Potter movies (which are streaming with a Max subscription) are re-watched by fans, who spent years watching the Harry Potter cast grow up. Padma and Ron recently reunited 20 Years after their infamous Yule Ball date, and the actress couldn’t resist a dig. Accio nostalgia!

When ranking the Harry Potter movies, most fans put the fourth film The Goblet of Fire high. Not only is there epic drama like Cedric Diggory's death, but there's also lighthearted scenes like the Yule Ball. Actress Afshan Azad played Padma Patil, and recently posted on Instagram a sweet reunion pic with Rupert Grint...while also poking fun at his signature character. Check it out for yourself below: 

They grow up so fast! It's hard to believe it's been so long since The Goblet of Fire hit theaters back in 2005, but it's been nearly two decades. Clearly there's a lot of love shared within the cast, although Azad couldn't help put poke fun at Ron. After all, he was pretty much a nightmare Yule Ball date.

While the cast of Harry Potter reunited on camera for the Return to Hogwarts special, conventions also offer the opportunity for the magical lot to get back together. For Grint and Azad, they were able to reunite and take a cute picture while at the London Olympia Exhibition Centre.

For more casual Harry Potter fans, in The Goblet of Fire, both Harry and Ron struggle with finding dates to the cross-school event The Yule Ball. They eventually ask sisters Parvati and Padma Patil respectively, but it's not a great night for any of that magical quartet... especially for Padma.

In both the book and movie, Ron never asks his date to dance throughout the entire night-- much to Padma's dismay. Instead he spends his time pining over Hermione, who was the date of Viktor Krum. This is one of the first big implications about just how strong Hermione and Ron's feelings for each other truly were, although it would take a number of years before they finally became a couple. 

It's always fun to see how much love is shared between the Harry Potter cast, including villains like Tom Felton and Jason Isaacs. Fans are holding out hope that the same actors might reunite again for a major project within the Wizarding World. Namely, a film adaptation of The Cursed Child, which features adult versions of the characters and their children. There are currently no plans for this project to come together, but that hasn't stopped fans from hoping.

The Harry Potter franchise is streaming in its entirety on Max.  Check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater next year.  

Rupert Grint starred in eight Harry Potter movies as Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley. His character is known for fighting evil with his friends as well as his comedy charms whenever things go wrong. But, the British actor jokes about what he would like to go back and change about his Harry Potter filming experience if he could.  

The Dream It “Enter the Wizard World” Convention in Paris had adoring fans meet with seven Harry Potter actors through photo ops, autographs, and QAs where burning questions were answered. Rupert Grint was asked what he would change about the Harry Potter movies if he could. Here is his joking response in the Facebook reel below:

I’d have to agree with Rupert Grint on that front. I wonder if that’s another reason why the ginger-haired actor previously said he couldn’t watch past the third movie as his beloved character got older. In The Goblet of Fire, it really did look like it was the movie where everyone in the cast was starting to grow longer hair maybe to symbolize the aging of the Hogwarts students. While I was fine with Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson’s hair growing longer in that movie, Grint could have done without the ‘70s style straight hair. Fortunately, that was the only film in the series where he donned that hair-don’t.

Any changes I would make about Ron Weasley in the films would be that the strong points of his character shown in the books should have made it into the films. While Hermione is considered the smart one of the trio, the J.K. Rowling series showed Ron had a lot of knowledge of how the Wizard World worked based on being born and raised among magical folks. 

There were also a lot of moments in the books where Ron was there for his friends like how he was willing to die to save Harry in The Prisoner of Azkaban book, whereas they had Hermione be the one to do that in the Alfonso Cuarón movie. It seems like the films used Rupert Grint’s character as a comic relief. It's no wonder why the Sick Note actor was offered sidekick roles after his Harry Potter run ended. Maybe the upcoming HBO Max show will develop our favorite red-haired wizard more.

Another major factor I would change about Ron Weasley in the movie was his relationship with Hermione. While the books showed the two Hogwarts students going through their bickering, we did feel the love between the two. In the movies, it looked like Hermione had more adorable moments with Harry. Plus, the filming angle of the long-awaited big kiss scene could have been without the back of Grint’s head. As the Driving Lessons actor believes his character and Hermione are divorced by now, maybe the new TV series will better show that romance too.

Rupert Grint's joke about not being fond of his hair in The Goblet of Fire is incredibly relatable. After all, we all have hairstyles growing up that make us cringe looking back. I’d like to believe that whoever ends up playing Ron Weasley in the upcoming HBO Max series won't repeat the same look from the fourth movie. 

You can see Rupert Grint and the rest of your favorite Harry Potter actors in all of the movies on your Max subscription and your Peacock subscription. Be on the lookout for the new Harry Potter series that's expected to appear on your streaming schedule in 2026.

The Harry Potter cast almost always seems up for revisiting the famed past of the Wizarding World’s cinematic adaptations. And if you’re lucky enough, you just might be able to spot such moments in the wild, thanks to actors being present at fan cons all over the world. The latest instance of this phenomenon is possibly one of the cutest, as it involved Rupert Grint and Jessie Cave adorably recreating one of their scenes from The Half Blood Prince as adults. 

Thanks to the TikTok account associated with Dream It Conventions, a quick but lovable clip of the actors behind Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown is going viral. As both were on hand for the recent Enter The Wizarding World con in Paris, France, the moment displayed below was allowed to take place: 

After catching some comments that claim Rupert Grint and Jessie Cave have seemingly not aged, I’m inclined to agree. Though they may not be in costume, or on the sets that created the hallways of Hogwarts, you can truly feel the magic in this recreation. So much so that you can hear Cave practically calling the Knock at the Cabin cast member “Won-Won.” 

Of course, nostalgia like this is a good point to reference the genuine article. At least that’s where my mind goes, and if that’s where your head’s at too, I have us all covered. Here’s that exact moment from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, which was somehow released 15 years ago this summer: 

If you all need a moment to check for back pain or any other signs of aging, I’ll wait; because how in Dumbledore’s name has it been almost two decades since this movie’s release? And yet watching Jesse Cave putting that necklace on Rupert Grint all over again makes it all feel like the blink of an eye? I’d say “magic,” but that’s the easy/most likely answer. So…something something Voldemort?

Though some parties may seem to think liking Harry Potter as an adult isn’t exactly mature, there are those that still reflect positively on the adult fans that still carry the saga in their hearts. Jessie Cave’s comments on the matter certainly have her in that camp. And if you weren’t already a fan of her and her Lavender Brown character, this story has probably changed your tune.

Which means it’s probably time for the internet to argue whether or not Ron and Hermione is the one true pairing that it was billed as back in the day. And if you want to be an informed participant on this matter, you’re in luck! All eight Harry Potter films are, at the time of this publication, streaming through access to a Peacock subscription. So you don’t need a Pensieve to take this trip to the past, just a remote and updated billing information.

You know a movie is doing something right when it elicits a truly emotional reaction from you. Often that might be tears welling in your eyes. Sometimes it’s a feeling of elation when a hero succeeds. And sometimes it’s the desire to punch somebody right in the face. You’re supposed to hate the bad guys and want them to get defeated, but sometimes the person who needs a smack is the hero.

A thread on Reddit recently asked fans what protagonist they would most like to punch in the face, either because they were whiney, generally annoying, or just an actual terrible person. And there are some choice answers here. It turns out that a fair number of heroes need a decent smack.

There are plenty of characters in the Harry Potter cast worthy of a smack, but one is one of the main three heroes. Harry's buddy Ron Weasley is a popular choice for a human punching bag that people who want to just beat the hell out of. A lot of people think that, especially in the later films, he ends up perpetually stupid and jealous and he just needs to get over himself. It doesn’t make him a good friend to the people he’s supposed to be friends with.

Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky in the Transformers movies is another popular choice. Maybe it was the fact that the movies focused so much on his character, while most people watching the movies just wanted to see the giant robots, that made him so completely annoying. Maybe that's why the Transformers franchise seemingly killed him off. It's certainly true that the best Transformers movies are generally the ones he's not in.

One choice that is perhaps controversial is Ferris Bueller. While Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is an incredibly popular comedy, there is a contingent of people who see Ferris as a spoiled, entitled ass, and think that maybe what Ferris needs is a good ass-kicking. While I don’t necessarily agree, I can see why some people feel that way. 

There are some cases where even though a movie character is ostensibly the protagonist of a film, you’re not necessarily supposed to like them. Adam Sandler’s character in Uncut Gems comes up in the discussion. He certainly has a pretty bad life for the duration of the film. Of course, that’s all because of the choices that he makes, which makes you want to wring his neck. This is by design, but that doesn’t make it any less true. 

If a movie makes you want to punch the hero in the face, there’s an argument that the movie still works, that you’re invested enough in the story for the character’s actions to make you want to smack them. In many cases, this does mean that a character you were supposed to like is one you don’t, but as long as you weren’t bored, I guess that’s something. 

Starting in 2001, Emma Watson played Hermione Granger in all of the Harry Potter movies until the film series conclusion The Deathly Hallows: Part Two came out in 2011. Growing up with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint on a film set for a decade means there are plenty of memories to cherish looking back. The British actress shares how she “misspent her youth” after she and her Harry Potter chums enjoyed a fun hobby on the set of the fantasy series 

Emma Watson may not have magical spellwork in common with her Hermione Granger character. On the other hand, she can cook up a mean potion like her Hogwarts alum counterpart in the form of classic cocktails. While speaking to British Vogue, she worked her own magic shaking up those cocktails and sharing something really fun she, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint would do together while on the set of Harry Potter.

Sounds like Emma Watson is a table tennis pro in the making. I can absolutely understand how competitive it can be when you keep whupping your co-stars. According to a 2009 article from Asian News International via The Free Library, Daniel Radcliffe said to Zoo Magazine that Watson “wipes the floor with me every time I play her” on the set of Half-Blood Prince. It’s because of this that he and Rupert Grint would be too frightened to play her. That’s some girl power right there.

Table tennis wasn’t the only thing that Emma Watson was able to do better than her Harry Potter co-stars. After sreturning to set for the first time in 10 years for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, the trio spoke about a totally “on-brand” story when Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón wanted them to write an essay on their characters. Radcliffe wrote one paragraph on Harry and Grint failed to turn in anything which is a very Ron Weasley thing to do. The Little Women actress, however, did a very Hermione thing by writing a 16-page character study on Hogwarts’ brightest witch. That’s 10 points for table tennis athleticism and another for doing her assigned homework on set.

When Emma Watson was concluding her cocktail-making, she spoke about other skills she wished to strengthen. When talking about what she was doing in her life right now, the Perks of Being a Wallflower actress revealed she’s taking a real interest in screenwriting and directing. She clarified that she doesn’t necessarily see it as stepping away from acting, but more like a step forward towards expanding her talents. The 33-year-old said that she would prefer to return to acting if it was a work she directed or wrote. It seems like Watson would rather her upcoming projects be more personal to her with an emphasis on having more of a behind-the-scenes role than anything else.

With all of the intense moments that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had growing up in The Wizarding World, it’s nice Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint had some downtime for a little table tennis on set. While she jokingly saw practicing her backhand as how she "misspent her youth," I see it as fun times she had with her long-time Harry Potter pals. But, it’s a lesson learned for everyone that going against Watson in table tennis means you have some tough competition. 

You can watch the Harry Potter trio in all eight films on your Max subscription and your Peacock subscription. Make sure to check our 2024 movie releases if Watson’s next projects appear there.

The Harry Potter franchise has entertained audiences for decades, starting with J.K. Rowling’s novels and then becoming an even bigger sensation thanks to the eight-film movie franchise. The young cast grew up in front of the public’s eyes, and they’ve even begun having children of their own in recent years. And one Harry Potter fan noticed a cool movie connection after the birth of franchise alum Bonnie Wright’s new baby.

Ginny actress Bonnie Wright recently celebrated the birth of her first child, with some of her colleagues from the Harry Potter franchise taking the time to celebrate her. Fans are honoring this life change as well, and noticed a strange connection with how the cast’s children have mirrored how their signature characters had kids. You can check it out below, courtesy of Twitter. 

Well, my mind is blown. It looks like the cast of Harry Potter might be closer to their characters than they realize. Namely because Daniel Radcliffe, Bonnie Wright, and Rupert Grint became parents and had children who matched the sex of their kids in-universe. And after this realization I’m really going to need the cast to reprise their roles in a Cursed Child movie.

I’ve got to give the above fan points to their Hogwarts house for making this somewhat mind-blowing connection. As they pointed out, both Bonnie Wright and Daniel Radclife’s first child were boys. Ginny and Harry’s first child was named James, and is featured in the epilogue of Deathly Hallows. 

Meanwhile, Rupert Grint has a daughter, just like Ron and Hermione’s first child was Rose Weasley. Rose ends up being a character in the Cursed Child plays, and was also shown in the final moments of Deathly Hallows. The cast of Harry Potter is seemingly following in the footsteps of their characters, and I have to wonder which of these beloved actors will end up becoming a parent next.

This connection between the children of the Harry Potter’s cast and their characters will likely only increase the call for them to reunite for a film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Those plays are focused on Harry and Draco’s sons, and feature adult version of the original characters. It’s unclear if a movie version is ever coming, but moviegoers are hoping to see the actors reprise their roles to bring the time traveling story to life.

The Harry Potter franchise is streaming with a Max subscription. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

When you've acted in a film franchise for many years, it's natural that one would get very close to their castmates. It’s a bonding experience that very few people can relate to and, often, the people you share it with become your closest friends. That was true for the cast of the Harry Potter series who essentially grew up together on the set, due to starting work on 2001's Sorcerer's Stone as tweens. They even almost got tattoos to commemorate their experience. However, Daniel Radcliffe couldn’t commit to getting inked alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, and he had a good (and funny) reason why.

What Was Being Planned For The Group Tattoos?

It's not out of the ordinary for stars to get tattoos to commemorate a movie experience, especially those who are part of a long-running franchise. The main cast of the Avengers all got matching tatts after Avengers: Endgame, except for Mark Ruffalo, who remains a holdout. The Lord of the Rings cast also got inked to mark the three films that they did together. The cast of Suicide Squad even received tattoos, despite only doing the one movie. It's understandable that after spending 10 years working on Harry Potter, that its triumvirate of co-leads would want to do the same. In an interview with The Mirror, Rupert Grint (who played Ron Weasley) said at the time:

A lightning bolt would’ve been perfect. It would be small and easily concealable, while also being a great tribute to the series. A little Deathly Hallows symbol also would’ve been a good pick, as it so specifically relates to the lore of the franchise. Designing something new and unique like the Avengers did could've also been neat. However, those tattoo dreams eventually died. While there may have been talk, they all never ended up going through with it. I suppose even a small tattoo was just too big of a commitment.

Why Daniel Radcliffe Was The Hold Out

It’s hard to commit to cast tattoos when Harry Potter himself doesn’t want to get inked. In a past interview with The Guardian, Daniel Radcliffe revealed he doesn’t have any intention of ever getting tatted. That's mostly because of the cover-up situation that would’ve had to take place while playing different characters, and the roles the Swiss Army Man actor has booked post Potter. He explained his aversion to body art, saying:

You might chuckle at the logic, but he makes a good point. Since Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe has taken a lot of projects that involve nudity like Horns and Equuis, which was a stage production. Because he had to show off his body for these roles, he prefers being a blank canvas (physically) in order to fully embody a character. Radcliffe has gone out of his way to take very different roles following HP, doing so to establish himself as a character actor. A lightning bolt tattoo probably would’ve been somewhat distracting for those watching him in the audience. Plus, the star probably also wanted to further distance himself from his iconic role.

Still, it's been so long since Potter finished and, at this point, all of the primary actors have taken on different roles and established themselves as versatile actors in their own right. The Imperium star is one of the most interesting character actors working today, seamlessly playing a kooky action movie villain in The Lost City and Weird Al Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (despite any worries) all in one year. He hasn't done too much nudity in his more recent roles. All in all, he's come a long way since playing The Boy Who Live. Unfortunately though, I still think the tattoo ship has sailed. 

You can catch Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe in all eight Harry Potter movies, which are streaming now with a Max subscription. Fans of Radcliffe can also check out his Emmy nominated performance in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story which is streaming on The Roku Channel. 

It seems like there’s a new trend among the Harry Potter stars these days - baby fever! The Boy Who lived himself, Daniel Radcliffe, recently welcomed his first child with his longtime partner Erin Darke, and now, a member of the Weasley fam is following suit. Bonnie Wright, who played the character of Ginny Weasley in the beloved Harry Potter films, is the latest cast member to announce that she is expecting a child. And, of course, there are heartwarming pictures of her showing off her baby bump.

The After the Dark actress took to Instagram to share the happy news with her fans, posting a photo of herself and her husband, Andrew Lococo, with a visible baby bump and a beaming smile. The actress accompanied the post with an adorable caption, capturing the couple’s excitement as they face the “wild” and “humbling journey” ahead of them as they prepare to become parents. You can see the beautiful post for yourself below. 

The couple’s happiness is palpable, and who could blame them? Such exciting news. 

Bonnie’s post was met with an outpouring of love and congratulations from her followers and celebs, including fellow Harry Potter star James Phelps, who played her on-screen brother Fred Weasley. Phelps wrote a simple but thoughtful ‘Congratulations’ to the expecting couple. 

If Potter fans want to really feel old, know that the Before I Sleep star joins a growing list of Wizarding World vets who have become parents. As mentioned before, Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe recently became a father, and in 2020, Rupert Grint, who played Wright’s character’s brother Ron Weasley, welcomed a baby girl with his partner Georgia Groome. Afshan Azad, the actress who played Padma Patil throughout the latter half of the Harry Potter series, gave birth to her first child in 2021. So, it's safe to say the wizarding family is growing!

The Weasley actress has a history of sharing her life updates with fans. She married Lococo, her longtime boyfriend, in California in 2022, wearing a vintage sustainable wedding dress, which she shared on social media. However, selecting the dress came with some obstacles. She opted for a 100-year-old dress, which turned out to be see-through when she tried it on. However, rather than rocking the dress like Florence Pugh did in her sheer Valentino gown, Bonnie Wright added a slip to her vintage dress. 

For fans who are surprised to learn that Wright is expecting to be a parent soon, it may be intentional. In a previous interview, she expressed that she was content with not reprising her role as Ginny Weasley role, and said she preferred viewing the Harry Potter series as a “time capsule.” Therefore, the news of her pregnancy may shock some, but it only reinforces the notion that the series serves as a preserved moment in time while time marches on, and we all, even Harry Potter stars, are getting older. 

As time goes on, the cast of the beloved family-friendly movie series and their fanbase are aging. With more baby announcements likely on the horizon, we’ll keep you informed every step of the way. We at CinemaBlend want to congratulate Wright and Lococo and wish them a healthy and peaceful pregnancy. 

If all this Harry Potter baby talk has made you want to binge watch the franchise, all you need is an HBO Max subscription to stream all eight movies. You can also check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to plan your next magical trip to the cinema. 

Remakes and reboots are the order of the day. There are few if any franchises that are completely safe, and as it turns out that includes Harry Potter. With the Fantastic Beasts film franchise all but officially dead, the plan for the future is to remake the Harry Potter movies, but as a prestige television series for HBO Max. The announcement was a shock to many fans, but apparently not to Rupert Grint, who called it a few months ago.

Back in January, Rupert Grint spoke with GQ and talked about the idea of the role of Ron Weasley getting recast in an eventual remake. Grint saw the possibility as inevitable, but also said that he thought a Harry Potter series, rather than a straight film remake, was the way to go. He explained… 

Rupert Grint was sure that a remake would happen in one form or another, but not everybody was. The Harry Potter franchise is a big sprawling epic that covered eight films over a decade. It was so big that, while it would be understandable that a studio would want to remake that success, it was unclear if anybody would really be willing to undertake something of that scope. There was also a feeling from some that maybe the movies shouldn’t be touched

The plan, as far as it’s known at this point, is that the series will take the Game of Thrones route, and produce one season of the show for each book in the series. Assuming that we don’t see the first season for a couple more years, it will likely be about 15 years after the last movie that we see the beginning of the remake, which is about par for the course these days.

There is, at least on paper, some potential value to recreating the Harry Potter books as a TV series. The novels, especially the latter ones, are massive tomes and the movies were forced to cut out a lot in order to make the runtime of a movie work. A series would be able to delve deeper and include more details than the films ever could, which might at least give a series a chance to stand out.

Of course, it’s very early in development. So at this point there’s no guarantee that this series will ever actually happen. Even fans of the franchise aren’t entirely sold on the idea. Many were expecting an adaptation of the Harry Potter stage show, especially since there was at least an indication that such a film could see many of the original Harry Potter cast return. But Rupert Grint is almost certainly right; the remake will happen, it’s just a question of when and how. 

By now you may have had a few hours to process the fact that Daniel Radcliffe, aka the actor who played The Boy Who Lived, is all grown up with a baby on the way. He isn’t the first former child star from the franchise to be expecting a kid, but it’s still jarring every time it has happened. It’s not just the Harry Potter fans who feel that way either. The actor himself has expressed how ‘weird’ the whole thing is. 

Following in the footsteps of his co-star Rupert Grint, who had a baby back in 2020 with Georgia Groome, news broke over the weekend that Radcliffe and his longtime partner Erin Darke are having a child together. The two were seen out and captured by photographers with Darke sporting a baby bump, and the rep for The Lost City star confirmed the two are expecting. Radcliffe is 33 and Darke is 38. 

The two were out and about in New York City when the news broke. She wore some killer orange boots, which normally would have been what I was focused on, but given she seemed to be sporting a baby bump, the fans grew curious and ultimately the couple shared their big news (via ET). Interestingly, the news comes after Radcliffe has expressed how strange and surreal the last few years have been as the grown-up Potter cast has started popping out their own kids. 

Daniel Radcliffe Is Still Getting Used To The Idea Of Harry Potter Stars As Parents 

Daniel Radcliffe is very empathetic to the idea that the cast from the famous Wizarding World having kids now is probably something that feels shocking and makes the aging fandom feel quite old. He said in a previous interview about Grint having a baby: 

In a separate interview around the same time, he told Bravo host Andy Cohen the whole idea of the cast having kids felt “super weird.” 

So, if you're a person who has thought about how weird it is the cast from the popular franchise is aging, you aren't alone. In fact, at the time, the Watch What Happens Live host confirmed the actor was not wrong in his assessment and noted, “It's weird for all of us." The actor then went on to confirm that all of the milestones the Harry Potter stars have hit since going from child to adult actors have also been weird.

Still, there is nothing permanent in life except change, and a new baby will likely be a big one for Darke and Radcliffe. They are not the first nor will they likely be the last to go on this parenting journey, either. 

The list of Harry Potter stars with kids now is fairly long and clearly still growing. There’s Grint, of course, but also Devon Murray (Seamus Finnegan) had a child back in 2021. Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown) has four children (one of whom had a tough bout with Covid during the pandemic) with her partner Alfie Brown. Scarlett Hefner (Pansy Parkinson) and Afshan Azad (Padma Patil) also have a kid. Our congrats go out to the couple more than 10 years into their relationship. 

There are popular franchises, and then there's Harry Potter. The Wizarding World has entertained audiences for decades, spanning books, movies, theme parks, and stage plays. The seven-film movie franchise continues to be re-watched, with the cast (who grew up before our eyes) remaining synonymous with their signature roles. That includes Draco Malfoy himself Tom Felton, who shared an A+ look at Rupert Grint and Jason Isaacs reacting to his Harry Potter book.

Back in October, Harry Potter actor Tom Felton released a book, largely inspired by his time in the Wizarding World. Titled Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, his accounts has definitely turned the heads of hardcore Potterheads out there. That includes his onscreen father Jason Isaacs and Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint. Check out that pair reacting to Felton's book, courtesy of his personal Instagram account. Accio, social media content!

I mean, how delightful is that? Clearly there's a ton of love shared between the cast of the Harry Potter movies, which was on full display during the Return to Hogwarts HBO Max special. And part of having good friends/family is having someone to lovingly poke fun at you, just as Rupert Grint and Jason Isaacs are doing above. Is there a Wizarding World book club that we don't know about?

Tom Felton shared the image of Rupert Grint and Jason Isaacs to his 11.9 million followers on Instagram. While he's done plenty of promotion for his book Beyond the Wand, this latest update is sure to go viral. Mostly because it looks like Felton's magical co-stars aren't really believing the contents of his memoir. Of course, we know that this is all a fun joke born out of love.

Clearly there's a ton of love shared between the Harry Potter cast, and Tom Felton has maintained a close relationship with Lucius Malfoy actor Jason Isaacs throughout the years. That father/son dynamic is still strong between the pair, despite Felton now being 35 years-old. But what makes the above post all the more fun is that Ron Weasley icon Rupert Grint is also included, with the two are seemingly not enjoying their reading of Beyond the Wand. 

In his book, Tom Felton got to share what his experience was like working on the Harry Potter franchise from such a young age. He and the rest of the cast grew up before our eyes, and the fandom hasn't let up in the years since Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released. The book also share some of the downsides of fame, and the struggles that Felton faced as a result of his time as Draco Malfoy. That includes his past with substance issues. 

In addition to the reunion special, Harry Potter fans are hoping that the cast once again reunited on camera, specifically through a film adaptation of The Cursed Child. The cast has given various statements about this possibility, so we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

M. Night Shyamalan’s latest box office horror movie hit, Knock at the Cabin, contains a simple but terrifying premise: if strangers broke into your home and forced you to choose between your loved ones and the rest of the world, what would you do? A bone-chilling Sophie’s choice that one of the movie’s actors, Harry Potter alum Rupert Grint, says made the filmmaking experience one of the worst projects for him because it encompasses two of his biggest fears: the apocalypse and home invasions.

Costars Rupert Grint and Ben Aldridge appeared on the British television program, This Morning to discuss their latest M. Night thriller. Grint gushed about his time working with The Sixth Sense director (a reunion for the pair) but says the movie was quite stressful due to his own personal fears, and chiefly, his fear of home invasion. When asked, the actor confirmed to the hosts:

Who can blame the actor? There is no shortage of apocalypse and home invasion films and television shows, and I’d wager that is primarily because it’s a fear many of us share.

The Moonwalkers star might have had a stressful time on the set of Knock at the Cabin due to the nature of the subject matter at hand; however, he had nothing but positive things to say about his director. Grint went as far as describing Shyamalan as being a genius in the realm of psychological thrillers. He continued: 

It would seem that audiences and critics agree with Grint because Knock at the Cabin became M. Night’s fourth movie in a row to hit number one at the box office. An impressive achievement for any filmmaker, but maybe even more so for Shyamalan, who at one point in time had become somewhat of a Hollywood punching bag after such box office bombs as The Last Air Bender and After Earth. Perceived failures aside, we cannot forget we are talking about the man who wrote and directed The Sixth Sense and Signs (which shares a spiritual connection to Knock). The director has some bangers in his filmography–see our ranking of all his movies.

Do you share the fear of the apocalypse and home invasions with actor Rupert Grint? Well, there is still time for you to be scared out of your wits by catching Knock at the Cabin, now playing in theaters. For all other movie and entertainment news, stay tuned to CinemaBlend and make sure to check out our list of 2023 new movie releases to plan your next cinema-going experience. 

Since the books arrived on shelves back in 1997, the Harry Potter franchise has absolutely transfixed the general public. This global sensation got even bigger thanks to the eight movies, which made household names out of its trio of young stars. That includes Rupert Grint, who notably played Ron Wesley throughout all of those blockbusters. And Grint recently admitted to stealing from the movie’s set, saying “it was so shady.” 5 points from Gryffindor.

Rupert Grint and his co-stars Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe grew up before the public’s eyes while starring in the Harry Potter movies. Since then they’ve all had great careers, with Grint also becoming a father. He recently spoke to People about his career, and confessed to the great lengths he went to steal a piece of the Wizarding World. As he put it,

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during the final days of the Harry Potter film franchise. Can you imagine seeing one of the lead actors whip out a screwdriver in order to take home a piece of the set? While security was tight, it sounds like Grint made it work just like his signature character Ron would: by any means necessary.

Rupert Grint’s comments to People come as he’s been promoting his role in M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie Knock at the Cabin, which recently went to #1 at the box office. Eventually the conversation turned to his decade of time in the Wizarding World, where he revealed how far he went to take a part of Harry Potter home. Specifically, Harry’s home with the Dursleys on Privet Drive. But when security is tight and checking people’s cars, you gotta do what you gotta do.

This story from Rupert Grint feels like another example of the ways that he and his co-stars somewhat blended in with their characters while working on the Harry Potter franchise. He recently confirmed another story, where he, Emma Watson, and Daniel Radcliffe were asked to write a paper about their characters before filming The Prisoner of Azkaban. Watson wrote 6 pages, Radcliffe wrote 1 paragraph, and Grint didn’t hand it in at all. Although he had good reason with actual school exams happening around the same time. 

There’s clearly a ton of love shared with the Harry Potter cast, which was on display with HBO Max’s special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. Some fans are holding out hope that this ensemble might once again meet on the big screen for a film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It’s unclear if that’ll ever happen, but they’re getting closer to the appropriate age for the adult version of their characters.

Rupert Grint can be seen in theaters in Knock at the Cabin, and starring in the final season of Apple TV’s Servant. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It seems like only yesterday that Rupert Grint was still playing Ron Weasley and sporting a wand and saying “Bloody hell” every other sentence. Eleven years later, our favorite red-headed wizard is all grown up and a dad now with a new daughter at home. The time has come for Grint to show his two-year-old daughter Harry Potter clips, but apparently he may have been a little prematurely excited to show her his most famous role. 

Because Harry Potter was part of Rupert Grint’s life for a decade, it’s maybe a given the fantasy film series would come into play once he became a father. In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, he said he's already given his baby daughter, Wednesday, her first Hogwarts robes and brought it upon himself to finally re-watch the Harry Potter series with her in little clips. However, she may not be quite at the right age yet, because one thing has been confusing about them while watching.

I can only imagine the reactions she’ll have to watch her father throwing up slugs in The Chamber of Secrets or Ron’s terrifying encounters with spiders once she's big enough to really get what's going on. But I’m actually sure his daughter won’t be the only one cringing while watching the Harry Potter series. 

Grint has said before that he is actually not able to watch past the third movie since he feels it's still pretty hard to detach from the later movies and the person he was at the time. As the 34-year-old actor finally introduces his daughter to the Harry Potter movies, he’s already turned her into a “Potterhead” with a wand and a Ron Weasley Pez dispenser. I wouldn’t be surprised if her first sentences were Harry Potter spells.

As Wednesday gets older, though, it might be possible that she sees another actor playing the role her father originated or she could see an older version of her dad return to the Wizarding World. For now, it's been reported that a Harry Potter TV series is in the works at HBO Max and there's always the possibility of some sort of reboot or revival in the future. I have no idea what the future of the franchise will look like, but it's also worth noting that Grint has said he would return to the Harry Potter universe, though he'd want big names like Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe involved as well. 

More recently, Rupert Grint's been busy in other roles. He reunited with his Servant’s showrunner M. Night Shyamalan in the new horror film Knock at the Cabin, where he plays one of the four strangers holding a family hostage in their remote cabin with orders for them to sacrifice one of their own to prevent the apocalypse. The British actor has commented that he likes playing unlikable characters based on their complexity. 

I feel it was only a matter of time before Rupert Grint turned his daughter into a Harry Potter fan, and if you'd like to follow suit with your own kids, you can do so with a Peacock subscription.  

Warning: slight SPOILERS for Knock at the Cabin are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you’ve been warned. 

Roughly 20 years ago, actor Rupert Grint’s career was started as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies. Much like his co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, his career after those movies would give him a wide range of roles to tackle, and in various mediums. Thanks to his work with director M. Night Shyamalan and the 2023 new movie release Knock at the Cabin, Grint has been able to really dig into playing unlikable characters. 

It’s an experience that’s given Rupert Grint more of a chance to learn what he loves about playing those types of people. It just so happened to be that his role as the snarky Julian in the Apple TV+ series Servant went back-to-back with his latest Shayamalan collaboration, a fact that I learned when sitting down with him during the Universal press day for this apocalyptic thriller.

When I asked if Rupert Grint was purposely seeking out roles where he could play “unlikable with caveats,” his answer suggested that he’s not trying to make a pattern out of it. That being said, he isn’t against the fact that those sorts of parts have just landed in his lap. Reflecting on his Knock at the Cabin experience, here’s how Grint explained this career move to CinemaBlend: 

Throughout the fast-paced narrative of Knock at the Cabin, Redmond is the only character for whom we really see their backstory. As an assailant who attacks Andrew (Ben Aldridge) on a night out with his husband Eric (Jonathan Groff), we learn that Redmond (Rupert Grint) has a connection to the couple that’s being asked to make an apocalyptic sacrifice.

That’s not how he’s introduced though, as you can see in the Knock at the Cabin trailer, and Grint acknowledged the big change his character undergoes between those events of the past and the standoff at the cabin. When we see Redmond standing alongside Leonard (Dave Bautista), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and Adriane (Abby Quinn), he still has quite the temper. 

However, the version of this man Knock at the Cabin introduces us to is definitely reformed, trying to serve the sacred purpose he and his compatriots are trying to execute. Even after seeing his past revealed throughout flashbacks, you still feel sorry for the pressure that’s put on him in this tense situation.

It’s a different kind of unlikable from Rupert Grint’s stint as Julian Pearce in Servant, which is about to conclude its four-season run on Apple TV+. Whereas Julian is more cosmopolitan and comes from money, Redmond is more of a blue collar character. The common thread of Grint and his consummate skills to present these characters as three-dimensional beings is the only thing that draws these wildly different people together. 

Just as co-star Dave Bautista struggled with emotional balance for his Knock at the Cabin character, Rupert Grint also did a delicate dance with a character who could have very easily been one note.  The results don’t lie, as Knock at the Cabin has been drawing critical raves for the film, as well as its performances. 

Should you dare to take this trip into the woods, you can only see this picture at a theater near you. Rupert Grint fans can also take this time to catch up on Servant, which is streaming for those who have an Apple TV+ subscription at their disposal.

The stars of M. Night. Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin,” including Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge discuss their new thriller film in this interview with CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes. Watch as they dive into working with the iconic director, Bautista’s greatest struggles on set, Groff’s “daddy era” and more!

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Dave Bautista Raves About His Costars’ Performances
01:39 - Rupert Grint On What He Likes About Playing Unlikable Characters
02:33 - How Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge Prepared To Play Their LGBTQ Characters
04:01 - Dave Bautista And Rupert Grint Talk Struggles & Lessons On The M. Night Shyamalan Set
07:20 - Are Jonathan Groff & Ben Aldridge Entering Their ‘Daddy Era?’
07:54 - Dave Bautista Teases Weirdness & Politics in ‘Dune 2’

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has entertained the public for decades now, starting with J.K. Rowling’s novels, and expanding to movies, video games, and theme parks. The eight-film Harry Potter movie franchise has remained a vital part of pop culture, with the cast still closely associated with their signature characters. That includes Ron Weasley himself, Rupert Grint, who confirmed a totally on-brand story about him, Emma Watson, and Daniel Radcliffe. Because sometimes life imitates art.

Moviegoers watched the trio of leading Harry Potter actors grow up before our eyes, as they starred in eight movies across a decade of time. And while they’ve all gone on to great things in their adulthood, they’re often fielding questions about their time at Hogwarts. Rupert Grint recently appeared on British GQ, where he answered questions about him from the internet. One is a viral story about the set of The Prisoner of Azkaban, where director Alfonso Cuarón asked the trio to write an essay about their character. In the story Emma Watson wrote 16 pages, Daniel Radcliffe wrote one paragraph, and Grint failed to turn in anything at all. The Servant actor responded honestly about this claim, saying:

Well, there you have it. It looks like Rupert Grint did indeed blow off an assignment from director Alfonso Cuarón while working on Harry Potter 3. Although the 34 year-old actor has a few reasons why he decided to skip out. Still, it really is funny to see how close he and his co-stars really were to their Wizarding World characters at the time. 

Rupert Grint’s comments to GQ come as he’s promoting his role in M. Night Shyamalan’s new thriller Knock at the Cabin. But as his press tours are wont to do, eventually the conversation (unsurprisingly) turned to Harry Potter. While he, Watson, and Radcliffe were starring in a global film franchise, they were still just kids. And sometimes kids skip out on their homework, especially when dealing with other stressors.

Later in that same video, Rupert Grint went on to share why Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was such a major change for the franchise. He gives Alfonso Cuarón the credit for bringing in a more adult feeling to the Wizarding World, and for digging deeper into the universe as a whole. As he put it,

He’s not wrong. Harry Potter 3 saw the students of Hogwarts looking more disheveled, and even wearing muggle clothes. Each character got a custom wand design, and Alfonso seemingly put in a big effort with the young cast at the time... even if Rupert Grint sometimes went full on Ron Weasley and didn’t always do his homework. You can watch Rupert Grint answering the internet’s questions about him below, courtesy of British GQ. 

Rupert Grint was recently able to reunite with the rest of his magical co-stars thanks to the streaming event Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. Fans are also wondering if they might once again join forces to adapt the Cursed Child plays for film, but there’s currently no plans for that to come to fruition. In the meantime, the leading trio is definitely keeping busy.

Knock at the Cabin will hit theaters on February 3rd. Rupert Grint is also starring in Servant on Apple TV+, which is airing its final season now. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Time and time again it’s been made clear that being a part of a massive franchise is a double-edged sword. This has proven to be especially true for the actors who made up the young ensemble of the Harry Potter movies. While starring in these high-profile movies made it easier for the actors to land roles after Harry’s story came to a close, it also came with some serious downsides, and Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, opened up about while reflecting on his time playing one-third of an iconic trio for a decade.

Grint recalled how much he related to Ron, he said he loved playing him, and had a lot in common with the Weasley sibling. The actor explained he also grew up in a large family with lots of siblings, he told Bustle that because of this he could relate to Ron’s insecurity of not being seen, he said:

The actor even said that he responds to “Ron” if someone calls him by his character’s name. “It’s my second name,” Grint explained.  

While I can totally see how having so much in common with your character makes the job way easier, it also creates a serious downside. The story pointed out that Grint started working on the Harry Potter movies when he was 11, and they wrapped up when he was 21. Playing a character for that long comes with major challenges, and the actor said: 

I totally see where he’s coming from, there comes a point when it’s time to move on, and if the welcome is overstayed things get challenging. Luckily Potter ended at the “right time” according to Grint, and he looks back on the experience fondly, even though there were downsides. 

Many of the actors who were in the young ensemble of the Harry Potter movies have talked about the difficulties of transitioning from Potter into adult life. As Grint explained, for him it was untangling himself from Ron Weasley, because they had become so intertwined. Emma Watson realized just how “sheltered” she was while playing Hermione. Matthew Lewis has talked about how hard it was to escape Neville’s shadow. Tom Felton has also been open about his transition, saying that being in these films was a “huge disadvantage” when it came to landing other roles at first. However, the Draco actor also said he’s “grateful” for the challenges because he was able to prove himself and learn from the experience.

The challenges of growing up after these movies really do sound difficult. However, it’s amazing to see how all these actors have flourished, and now have wonderfully unique careers outside of Harry Potter. 

Grint has said he’d be down to return to Harry Potter if the timing is right and everyone was involved. However, for now, he has lots of new, exciting projects lined up to look forward to. He’s already appeared on the 2023 TV schedule with a new season of the Apple TV+ series Servant. He’s made his way to the 2023 movie schedule too, as he’s part of the stacked cast for M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, which hits theaters on February 3. 

So, while it may have been hard to transition from the world of Harry Potter, Grint has done so with grace, and he has created some very exciting projects in the years since. 

The Harry Potter film franchise was a formative one for many of the young people that grew up with it. And the same is obviously true of those that grew up bringing the Wizarding World to life. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint grew up making those movies, and they’ll be forever associated with those characters even if they never actually play the roles again. But would Grint actually return as Ron Weasley? 

Of course, the Harry Potter cast will likely always be asked if they might play their roles again. The films were incredibly successful, and author J.K. Rowling even wrote an additional story that became a stage play. The Cursed Child is an adventure that happens after the events of the final novel and movie, where Harry and his friends are adults. Appearing on the U.K.’s This Morning (via The Daily Mail) Rupert Grint says he would return to the Wizarding World, but only under the ride circumstances. He explains…

Presumably the “everybody” being referenced here is Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. The three went through the experience of making those movies together and the Harry Potter stars clearly bonded over it all. Grint wouldn’t want to do any future project without them, and the same is likely true for Watson and Radcliffe. The three actors are so important in the eyes of fans that it seems likely any project that couldn’t get all three of them signed on is probably a non-starter anyway. It just wouldn’t happen.

There certainly has been talk about the possibility of more adventures for Harry, Ron and Hermione over the years. Warner Bros. has made it clear it plans to do more with the larger Wizarding World franchise, but with the Fantastic Beasts movies likely over, that franchise needs some direction. The return of the original cast would certainly bring that direction and a sense of stability. 

And none of the three stars have ever completely discounted returning. They did all come back for the HBO Max reunion special, so clearly nobody is done entirely. It wouldn’t be that surprising, considering what these actors went through over the course of a decade, if they said they never wanted to go back to Harry Potter again. But the fact that none of them has said this seemingly leaves the door open.

While more Harry Potter certainly seems like a long shot, we’ve seen some pretty long shot sequels get made and pay off big time in recent years. Who knows when the timing might be right. If somebody happens to come up with a story so good that Grint, Watson, and Radcliffe just can’t say no, maybe it will happen.

If you lived in one place for a few years, and then moved to another country, there would certainly be a period of adjustment. There would be things from the old place you would miss. It might be a particular food specialty or a unique sort of entertainment, but for Rupert Grint’s daughter, the thing she apparently misses the most now that she’s in the U.K. is…Target. But then again, who doesn’t love Target?

Harry Potter franchise co-star Rupert Grint recently finished production of the Apple TV+ series Servant, which has resulted in his family moving from Philadelphia, where the show was filmed, back to their native England. For Grint’s nearly three-year-old daughter Wednesday, whose name is likely to get very popular soon, this has been tough, as she’s actually spent more of her life in the U.S. than the U.K.. Grint recently explained on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that adjusting to her new home has been tough. She misses several things she enjoyed while living in Philly, but mostly Target. Grunt said…

This is apparently not that weird, as Jimmy Fallon says his kids are also obsessed with Target. Some of it is apparently the fact that Target has a toy aisle. Grint does say she's a Princess fan, and many Target stores have dedicated Disney sections. And since we don’t have Toys R Us anymore, so there’s no such thing as massive national toy store. But that’s apparently not all of it. The kid just likes being in Target. Grunt says she prefers going to Target to going to the park or the zoo.

If there were maybe something about a specific local Target that Wednesday loved, that might explain things a bit. But apparently that’s not the case. In fact, Wednesday used to like going to different Target stores in order to experience each one. Grint continued…

I mean, when you stop to think about it, Target can be pretty great. It’s a store that has such a wide selection of things that it’s likely to have almost anything you could possibly want, and having that sort of selection is nice. It’s perhaps a little surprising if there is nothing like it in the U.K. but that’s certainly possible. 

If nothing else it makes you consider how lucky we maybe all our. We probably take Target for granted, not necessarily thinking of it as that wonderful a place. And yet, for three-year-old Wednesday, the store is apparently an absolute wonder. Maybe we should all try to see things through eyes like that more often. 

One of the most fascinating things about watching the Harry Potter movies — in addition to the exciting magic and wondrous creatures that exist in the Wizarding World, of course — is watching its young characters grow up right before your eyes. Indeed, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and others spent much of their years transitioning from adolescence into adulthood at about the same rate that their characters did onscreen. 

While their experiences were not quite as dire off-set, they were still faced with their own set of challenges, especially after the release of the final installment of franchise based on the hit book series. See for yourself by reading what some of the Harry Potter cast went through after graduating from Hogwarts.

Emma Watson Realized How “Sheltered” She Was While Filming Harry Potter

The stereotype that all child stars come with an expiration date before fame goes to their heads and their career falters does not apply to Emma Watson, who went on to lead a stellar career beyond her days as Hermione Granger — including playing Belle in 2017’s live-action Beauty and the Beast remake and joining the Little Women cast for Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-winning adaptation. The secret apparently lies in the particularly “sheltered” life she had while working on the Harry Potter movies which, as the now 30-year-old actor revealed in the following excerpt from GQ, she did not fully comprehend until later: 

Watson also clearly had no trouble transitioning into roles that dramatically diverted from her precocious Hogwarts student character quickly after the franchise concluded. For instance, she gave the GQ interview referenced above in 2013, when promoting Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring, in which her character, Nicki, is practically the embodiment of teen rebellion.

Rupert Grint Can’t Watch The Harry Potter Movies Past Part 3

Also currently leading a career rich in roles that differ from his Harry Potter days is Rupert Grint, who is best known these days for starring on Apple TV+’s Servant and being the face of one of the most disturbing moments from Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities on Netflix. However, he does not have the easiest time looking back on his life as Ron Weasley, as his following testimony to Radio Times in 2018 reveals:

If I were to rank the best Harry Potter movies, I would agree that Prisoner of Azkaban deserves a high spot on that list. Yet, based on additional comments from his Radio Times interview, it looks like Grint’s reluctance to binge the franchise on his own time has more to do with his own struggles with fame at such a young age and the lasting effect it has had on him since.

Tom Felton Had To Rediscover Himself As An Actor After Playing Draco Malfoy For So Long

Finding a balance between his life in the Harry Potter cast and his life after was also something that Tom Felton struggled with — not that he found himself taking on the persona of the sniveling Slytherin, Draco Malfoy. The actor was actually a little hard on himself when revealing to The Guardian his experience moving on with his acting career following the film series’ conclusion:

Felton, essentially, had to relearn his skills as an actor and discover new ones before pursuing other avenues. However, some of his roles since are not too far a cry from Malfoy, such as when he appeared on The Flash as a forensic investigator manipulated into becoming a villainous sorcerer.

Matthew Lewis Struggled To Escape Neville Longbottom’s Shadow

Besides returning to voice the role in a LEGO video game, Matthew Lewis can say he has never played anything that resembles his clumsy-turned-courageous fan-favorite character, Neville Longbottom. However, the actor has not gotten as much attention for his later performances in the likes of the romantic drama, Me Before You, and Terminal opposite Margot Robbie, and based on his comments to Michael Rosenbaum on his podcast, Inside of You, it looks like he takes it to heart:

At least Lewis can also say that he did get some interesting attention for his revealing magazine cover shoot for Attitude in 2015, even if some the reactions were not what he was anticipating.

I suppose we should also take into account how difficult it may be for Harry Potter fans to separate the actor from their favorite character. Perhaps hearing how these actors struggle with the same thing in their careers could help with that.

While the Harry Potter movies made Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Tom Felton household names, and helped them jumpstart their careers, there is also major downsides to starring in one of the biggest franchises ever. And as Tom Felton recently revealed, he was at a “huge disadvantage” when he first started going for roles as a young adult because of the films that made him famous in the first place. 

To be clear, Felton has spoken fondly about his time on Harry Potter and the positive impact the franchise has had on his life. However, with the good comes the bad, and he reflected on his difficult time immediately after he left the Wizarding World for The Guardian, saying: 

It makes sense why Felton noted that there’s a big difference between auditioning as a 12-year-old and as an adult. He had explained in an interview that when he auditioned for Harry Potter all the kids were put together in a group, and he believes it was a snarky off-handed remark to his future co-star, Emma Watson, that may have landed him the role of Draco Malfoy, not a classic screentest or chemistry read.

These roles also have stuck with these actors ever since they were cast, so no matter what they will be recognized for them. This can work to their advantage as well as their disadvantage, as Felton noted.

In the years following Harry Potter, each of the young actors has gone on to lead drastically different careers. Felton has been open about his admiration for Daniel Radcliffe’s choices specifically post-Potter. The actor behind the title character has gone on to make a name for himself in the world of independent film, choosing wacky, weird and extremely unique projects, like Swiss Army Man and his most recent project Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, among many other fun films outside the world of Harry Potter. It's admirable to see just how successful Radcliffe has become following his stint as Harry Potter, and how he hasn't let himself by typecast into anything.

As for Felton, since starring in Harry Potter he has gone on to star in many other movies, release five EPs, star in numerous plays, like his most recent 2:22: A Ghost Story, and he just released his own memoir, Beyond the Wand, which his pal Emma Watson helped encourage him to write. He’s also revealed he’s not opposed to returning to the Wizarding World in the future if the opportunity arises. 

While Harry Potter may have been a disadvantage at one point for Felton, his love for the franchise now is amazing. It's been wonderful to see through all of his open and honest stories about growing up on the sets of the Wizarding World, and the life that followed for him just how impacted he was by the experience. If you are interested in seeing Felton in the iconic role of Draco Malfoy, you can stream all eight Harry Potter movies with an HBO Max subscription. 

When it comes to some of the best horror movies or the best fantasy movies, who is one of the first people you think of? For me, it’s always been Guillermo del Toro, an Academy Award winning director and screenwriter who has created some of the best films of the last twenty years, like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and so many more. And now, he’s returned to television with the release of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. 

This show features eight different horror stories written and directed by different people, and also features an entirely new cast in every episode. With that much talent, it might be hard to figure out exactly where you might have seen them before. If you’re wondering “where have I seen that actor before?”, this is Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities cast and why they look so familiar.

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Lot 36

“Lot 36” is written by Regina Corrado and is based on a story by del Toro himself, and directed by Guillermo Navarro. 

Tim Blake Nelson

Tim Blake Nelson has appeared in shows such as Watchmen, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidy, and the film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, where he starred. 

Elpidia Carrillo

Elpidia Carrillo has had a role on the popular TV series, Mayans M.C., but also had an appearance as Sonia on the hit teen drama, Euphoria, as well as a role in the original Predator film from 1987. 

Demetrius Grosse

Demetrius Grosse has appeared in The Walking Dead universe show, Fear the Walking Dead, for several episodes, and has popped up in many TV shows like The Rookie, Swagger, Frontier, and more. 

Sebastian Roché

Last for “Lot 36” is Sebastian Roché, an actor who is most known for his role in The Young Pope but has appeared in many big roles in shows such as The Man in the High Castle, Genius, The Originals, and more. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Graveyard Rats

“Graveyard Rats” is based on a short story by Henry Kuttner, and directed by Vincenzo Natali. 

David Hewlett

The only leading star of “Graveyard Rats” is David Hewlett, who has appeared in several movies and shows, such as The Shape of Water, SEE, and Stargate: Atlantis. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Autopsy

“The Autopsy” is based on a short story by Michael Shea and directed by David Prior. 

F. Murray Abraham

F. Murray Abraham won the Academy Award for his role in the film, Amadeus, but has appeared in many other movies, including several Wes Anderson films, as well as Star Trek: Insurrection, Inside Llewyn Davis, and currently stars in the Apple TV+ series, Mythic Quest. 

Glynn Turman

Glynn Turman has appeared in several movies and series. Most recently, in 2020, he had a role in Netflix’s film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and had had roles in shows such as Fargo and The Wire. 

Luke Roberts

Last but not least for “The Autopsy” is Luke Roberts, who had a lead role in the show Ransom, as well as appearing in many episodes of Black Sails on Starz. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Outside

“The Outside” is based on a short story by Emily Carroll, a comic-book author, and is directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. 

Kate Micucci

Kate Micucci has done a lot of voice roles for shows like Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? as well as American Dad!, and more. She also appeared in the film Flora & Ulysses, as well as the TV series, Mom. 

Martin Starr

Martin Starr first came to prominence with his role in Freaks and Geeks, but then appeared in shows like Silicon Valley, Roswell, Revelations, Party Down, and many more. He also had a minor appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. 

Dan Stevens

The last big name for “The Outside” is Dan Stevens, who has been in shows like Gaslit, High Maintenance, Legion, Downtown Abbey, and more. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Pickman’s Model

“Pickman’s Model” is based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft and directed by Keith Thomas. 

Ben Barnes

Most recently, in 2021, Ben Barnes got lots of attention for his starring role as the Darkling in the fantasy series, Shadow and Bone, which is also going to be getting Season 2 very soon, but he's also appeared in shows such as Westworld and The Punisher. 

Crispin Glover

Crispin Glover has appeared in shows such as American Gods, Texas Rising, and more. He also was in the comedy film, Hot Tub Time Machine. 

Oriana Leman

Last for “Pickman’s Model” is Oriana Leman, who is mainly known for her role in the fantasy series, Locke & Key, where she plays Carly Miller. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Dreams In The Witch House

“Dreams in the Witch House” is based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, and directed by Catherine Hardwicke. 

Rupert Grint

You might know Rupert Grint from his time as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series, but he’s also currently starring on the Apple TV+ series, Servant. 

Ismael Cruz Cordova

Isamal Cruz Cordova has appeared in several TV shows, including the Amazon series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as well as Berlin Station, The Undoing, The Catch, and so many more. 

DJ Qualls

DJ Qualls has had experience in television before, as he appeared in the popular CW show, Supernatural, as well as shows such as Z Nation, The Man in the High Castle, Fargo, and more. 

Nia Vardalos

Nia Vardalos got famous for writing and starring in one of the most successful romantic comedies of all time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but also has appeared on the cancelled Love, Victor, as well as the miniseries, Station 19. 

Tenika Davis

Last but not least for “Dreams in the Witch House” is Tenika Davis, who’s biggest work was having a role in Jupiter’s Legacy, as well as Titans in 2021. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Viewing

 “The Viewing,” features a stacked cast. The episode is written by Aaron Stewart-Ahn and Panos Cosmatos, who also directed. 

Peter Weller

Peter Weller has appeared in many TV shows before, including Longmire, MacGyver, The Last Ship, the popular FX drama, Sons of Anarchy, the Showtime series, Dexter, and many others. He also played the titular character in the original Robocop, and had a role in Star Trek Into Darkness. 

Eric Andre

Eric Andre actually has his own show, called The Eric Andre Show, but he’s been in other projects as well. He appeared in The Righteous Gemstones, and also voices one of my favorite cartoon characters, Luci, in the adult animated show on Netflix, Disenchantment. 

Sofia Boutella

Sofia Boutella is mainly known for her role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, but also appeared in Modern Love. She is set to premiere in the upcoming Rebel Moon. 

Charlyne Yi

Charlyne Yi has been in the business for some time and appeared in many movies and TV shows. Some of her biggest roles were in shows such as House M.D., Love, Jane the Virgin, We Bare Bears, Steven Universe, and more. She also appeared in movies like Always Be My Maybe, The Mitchells vs the Machines, and others. Most recently, she was in the film Block Party Juneteenth. 

Steve Agee

Steve Agee has had roles in many TV shows, such as D-Sides, New Girl, Fortune Rookie, Drunk History, American Princess, Twelve Forever and more. He also appeared in The Suicide Squad as John Economos, a role he reprised in the popular series, Peacemaker. He also portrayed Issac in Superstore. 

Michael Therrialt

If you want to talk about someone who has been in television for some time, Michael Therrialt is the person to bring up, as he has appeared in several TV shows. Some of his biggest roles have been in series such as Covert Affairs, Hemlock Grove, Heroes Reborn, The Girlfriend Experience, Damien, The Bagel and Becky Show, Reign, Alias Grace, and more. He also appeared in the horror film, Cult of Chucky. 

Saad Siddiqui

Last but not least for “The Viewing,” we take a look at Saad Siddiqui, who has been in many TV shows before, including The Art of More, Rogue, Incorporated, Slasher, October Faction, Coroner, The Hardy Boys, and more. He also had a minor role as Karan in Legends of Tomorrow. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Murmuring

The last episode of Cabinet of Curiosities, called “The Murmuring,” is based on an original story by Guillermo del Toro and is directed by Jennifer Kent, known for her famed horror movie, The Babadook. 

Essie Davis

Essie Davis had a lead role in The Babadook, led the series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and also appeared in shows like Lambs of God. 

Andrew Lincoln

Primarily known as Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln has also appeared in movies such as the classic holiday film, Love, Actually, and the television series, Afterlife. 

Hannah Galway

Hannah Galway is mainly known for her role in the TV series, Sex/Life, which is getting a Season 2, but also had appearances in shows like Under the Banner of Heaven and Good Sam. 

This cast for every single episode is truly stacked to the brim and features so many talented actors that I can hardly believe it. With such a creative lineup and spooky stories, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is sure to be one of the streaming platform’s best releases so far this year.

Following the release of Old in July 2021, M. Night Shyamalan didn’t waste any time getting to work on his next thriller. Before the end of the year, it was revealed that the writer/director was already developing a secret new project titled Knock At The Cabin, and he had already found his star. Just a few months later, in April 2022, production on the mysterious movie started up, and now it’s just a few months away from arriving in theaters.

In the wake of the release of Knock At The Cabin’s first trailer, you may be wondering about the actors who populate the ensemble cast, and on that front we have you covered. The new M. Night Shyamalan film has seven principal stars, and in this feature we’ve highlighted their past credits and previewed their roles in the new movie.

Dave Bautista

Since his breakout role as Drax The Destroyer in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Dave Bautista has made clear efforts to try and work with some of the best and most interesting filmmakers working today – be it Sam Mendes (Spectre), Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Dune), Zack Snyder (Army Of The Dead), or Rian Johnson (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery). With Knock At The Cabin, the wrestler-cum-actor has now added M. Night Shyamalan to that growing list, and it looks like he is set up with an intense role playing the leader of the home invaders in the thriller.

Jonathan Groff

Between Hamilton, Frozen, and The Matrix Resurrections, Jonathan Groff has been a part of some massive productions in the last decade, but Knock At The Cabin marks his entrance into the intimate thriller genre, and he’s in solid hands with M. Night Shyamalan at the helm. In the film he is playing Andrew, one half of a gay couple who decide to take a vacation with their daughter and go to a peaceful cabin in the woods. Unfortunately, the peace doesn’t last long thanks to the arrival of Dave Bautista’s Leonard and his cohorts.

Ben Aldridge

Ben Aldridge will be playing Jonathan Groff’s husband in Knock At The Cabin – the film being his feature follow up to Michael Showalter’s 2022 biographical drama Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies. Aldridge is best known for his work on the small screen, his credits including recurring roles on shows such as Our Girl, Reign, and Fleabag. Most recently he has been playing Thomas Wayne on the series Pennyworth and is the lead on the British crime series The Long Call.

Rupert Grint

It’s likely that Rupert Grint will forever be remembered for his portrayal of Ron Weasley in the beloved series of Harry Potter movies, but M. Night Shyamalan has been a key collaborator with the actor since his time in the Wizarding World. Since 2019, he has been playing one of the principal roles on the Apple TV+ original series Servant, which credits Shyamalan as an executive producer and a director. The show’s third season aired earlier this year, and it has been renewed for a fourth and final season. In Knock At The Cabin, he will be playing one of Leonard’s cohorts along with…

Nikki Amuka-Bird

Nikki Amuka-Bird is playing Adriane in Knock At The Cabin, who is another member of Leonard’s crew of home invaders. This will mark the second time that she has worked with M. Night Shyamalan, as she previously starred in 2021’s Old, but she is no stranger to working with talented filmmakers, having also worked with Steven Soderbergh, Armando Iannucci, and The Wachowskis. She has done a lot of television, including eight episodes of the Idris Elba series Luther, and she is part of the main cast of the HBO sci-fi comedy series Avenue 5.

Abby Quinn

Rounding out the group of antagonists in Knock At The Cabin is Abby Quinn as Sabrina. Younger than most of her costars, she doesn’t have as extensive a resume yet, but she has already been a part of some excellent movies and television shows. She has Greta Gerwig’s Little Women and Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking Of Ending Things among her credited feature roles, and has been featured in episodes of Black Mirror and Better Call Saul. In 2019 she was a part of the Mad About You revival season playing the daughter of Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt’s characters.

Kristen Cui

Finally we have the youngest member of the Knock At The Cabin ensemble, and the film is actually her professional acting debut. In the thriller she will be playing Wen, who is the daughter of Ben Aldridge’s Eric and Jonathan Groff’s Andrew. We don’t really know much about her role in the story beyond that, but our instincts tell us that she will be a part of the mysterious choice at the center of the plot that Leonard & Co. force the family to make.

There is still a great deal about M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock At The Cabin that we don’t know, and that seems very intentional… which in turn makes us all the more excited to see the film and discover its secrets. Produced by Universal Pictures, the movie is set to come out in the early weeks of 2023 – specifically on February 3, 2023.

For more about the lineup of films that are set to be released next year, check out our 2023 Movie Release Calendar, and our Upcoming Horror Movies guide will keep you apprised of all spooky and scary features that are on the way in the coming months.

Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan is known for, among other things, the ability to land a good twist. If anyone had a reason to question that claim, it looks like there’s one less excuse to doubt that the man behind The Sixth Sense, and most recently the very divisive film Old, can shock an audience. That’s especially true at this moment, as Shyamalan has surprised us all by dropping the trailer for his entry into the 2023 new movie releases, Knock at the Cabin.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by author Paul G. Tremblay, M. Night Shyamalan’s latest starts off looking rather idyllic. Fathers Andrew (Jonathan Groff) and Eric (Ben Aldridge) are taking their young daughter Wen (Kristen Cui, in her first film role) on a trip to a cabin in the woods. Knock at the Cabin doesn’t take long to deal some threatening cards, as the mysterious Leonard (Dave Bautista) goes from kindly to quietly menacing. 

His reason seems valid though: Leonard and his group of fellow disciples have a quest. They’re trying to prevent the apocalypse, which somehow involves holding Knock at the Cabin’s central family captive, and forcing them to make what he calls “a horrible decision.” It’s pretty much said in the tagline for M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, which you can see on the poster that was released alongside this trailer.

An even larger surprise than seeing this first footage to Knock at the Cabin is, perhaps, how quickly it came to be. Shyamalan started filming this past April, with production wrapping only a couple months later in June. Then again, the man behind The Village isn’t known to be a person who waits too long to get back to work. 

It also helps that M. Night Shyamalan noted Knock at the Cabin is one continuous take, or at least it’s supposed to play that way. That sort of enterprise could lead to a quicker editing process, which would nail the concept in place. A whole continuous stream of events, with Dave Bautista and Servant star Rupert Grint threatening a family into a terrible choice. That’s not anxiety inducing at all.

With lightning fast pacing, Unbreakable's writer/director has brought what looks like another tension filled movie to life. How this one will land with the world is anyone's guess, but Knock at the Cabin still seems to be hiding quite a bit of its story and twists up its sleeve. Which is perfect, because it wouldn't be an M. Night Shyamalan movie without some unexpected developments, and the fallout that washes over a crowd glued to the screen when it does.

Knock at the Cabin locks its audience into this horrific nightmare scenario, only in theaters, on February 3, 2023. However, you can still take a look at the film offerings still left in the list of upcoming movies in 2022. Or, if you haven't caught M. Night Shyamalan's previous film Old, anyone with an HBO Max subscription can do so, at the time of this writing.

The Harry Potter franchise has been a vital part of pop culture for decades, and shows no signs of slowing down. This is partly thanks to the beloved eight movies, which made the young cast into household names. The adult cast was also top notch, and we recently learned the great advice Alan Rickman gave Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and company as Harry Potter was ending.

Alan Rickman played Snape to pitch perfection throughout the Harry Potter movies, being privy to the character’s fate long before the public was. The younger stars seem to have treasured their time with the late actor, including Ron Weasley himself Rupert Grint. While appearing on the In The Envelope podcast, the Servant actor shared some advice that both he and Daniel Radcliffe took from Rickman about acting. As he put it,

Talk about good advice. While being a film actor is a slightly different craft, the dedication and immersion necessary to give a great theater performance has been known to benefit countless actors. So Alan Rickman wanted to make sure that Rupert Grint and company would flex those muscles as Harry Potter was ending its triumphant run in theaters.

That advice was definitely heard by both Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. As the latter actor mentions, he did a Broadway play shortly after wrapping Harry Potter. He starred in It’s Only a Play alongside legends like Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Stockard Channing. And he maintains that it was a helpful exercise as a performer.

Of course, Daniel Radcliffe also has done a number of high profile theatrical productions over the years. He infamously bore it all for the revival of Equus, while also appearing in the Broadway revival of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. So far Radcliffe has four Broadway credits to his name.

Later in that same podcast appearance Rupert Grint went on to share how Alan Rickman’s advice helps him to avoid corpsing on camera. Corpsing is also known as breaking, where actors laugh, smile or otherwise ruin a take. Apparently Rickman offered some advice on the subject, as Grint shared:

Rupert Grint likely has had to use that advice plenty of times, especially while starring in the Apple series Servant. The M. Night Shyamalan series pivots between comedy and horror, both of which might cause an actor to break aka corpse. 

Rupert Grint will once again collaborate with Shyamalan on his mysterious upcoming movie Knock at the Cabin. Although some fans are hoping he’ll eventually play Ron Weasley again in a Cursed Child movie. In the meantime check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Less than a year after Guillermo Del Toro delivered his latest big screen effort via the gothic thriller Nightmare Alley, the Oscar-winning filmmaker is returning to his horror roots for the upcoming anthology Cabinet of Curiosities, which has built up quite the impressive cast list so far. Everyone with Netflix subscriptions can look forward to seeing the new series when it debuts later in 2022 — presumably closer to the Halloween season — but we need not wait any longer to find out what to expect, thanks to the brand new teaser trailer seen above. Come for the creepy visuals, stay for the casting confirmations, including that of a Harry Potter film vet. 

And what an array of skin-crawling imagery there is to behold in Cabinet of Curiosities’ first look promo. I mean, when your opening shot is of a bunch of worms crawling around a mound of dirt that is likely a grave, you’re not setting up a new Care Bears tale. Interestingly enough, this teaser is all about establishing tones and setting moods as opposed to footage geared to the stars or dialogue. But there’s definitely no shortage of cemeteries, lavish churches, mysterious interiors, freaky artwork, books that may or may not be the Necronomicon, and creepy hands emerging from unknown depths. 

Did I mention taxidermied animals? Because yeah, there are taxidermied animals, among other chilling-looking creatures. Can’t go wrong with an intricately crafted spiderweb, right? I mean, walking blindly into one would be wrong, and would also cause me to squeal with unrelaxed animosity.

Coming back around to the casting news side of things, Cabinets of Curiosities already boasted a solid selection of stars, not limited to The Walking Dead vet Andrew Lincoln making his TV return. Beyond delivering eyefuls of unsettling moments, the teaser also confirmed a selection of cast members that hadn’t been made official by Netflix prior to now, including Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, whose horror muscles have been flexed in recent years thanks to M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant series. Check those cast members out below, along with a shortlist of those who were already announced.  

• Rupert Grint
• Eric André
• Kate Micucci
• Sofia Boutella
• Charlyne Yi
• Ismael Cruz Córdova
• Andrew Lincoln, Essie Davis, Luke Roberts, F. Murray Abraham, Glynn Turman, Tim Blake Nelson, Demetrius Grosse, Crispin Glover, Ben Barnes, Peter Weller, Sofia Boutella, David Hewlett

Weirdly enough, Guillermo Del Toro won’t be directing any of Cabinet of Curiosities’ eight episodes, though the series is based on a short story he wrote, and he curated the tales and talent that are bringing the frightfest to life. He did co-write one of the episodes with Sone of Anarchy and The Strain writer/producer Regina Corrado, but otherwise left the storytelling to the other all-stars listed below.

• Jennifer Kent (The Babadook)
• David Prior (The Empty Man)
• Guillermo Navarro (Hannibal eps, Pan’s Labyrinth cinematographer)
• Keith Thomas (2022’s Firestarter)
• Panos Cosmatos (Mandy)
• Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight)
• Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night)
• Vincenzo Natali (Cube)

With much to look forward to from Cabinet of Curiosities, it’s not yet clear when the anthology series will make its debut on Netflix, but we’ll be waiting for the date to be revealed via a Tarot card reading or an infestation of possessed bees or something. Check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way in the meantime.

What does one do after starring in a major film franchise like Harry Potter and are mainly offered "sidekick" roles after? If you’re Rupert Grint, you toss around the idea of quitting acting and buy an ice-cream truck, apparently. 

According to The New York Times, the actor almost threw in the towel after starring in the Harry Potter series. While he’d starred in no less than eight major blockbusters, he played the same character in all of them, a feat he described as "suffocating." Ron Weasley was a hero of the Wizarding World, but his portrayer wasn’t sure if he could hack it as an actor in any other film. He even told the NYT that he considered it to be "too late" for him to forge a name for himself in Hollywood that wasn’t Weasley. 

Rupert Grint even went so far as to concoct a back-up plan. But instead of a double major in Theatre and Accounting, his Plan B involved a brightly-colored ice-cream truck that he drove home on the last day of filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Apparently, he toyed with the idea of selling frozen confections as a career rather than continue in the entertainment industry. Imagine running outside on a hot day to buy a creamsicle, only to be greeted by a star of one of the biggest film franchises of all time. 

While we got some iconic photos of the star in a pink and white patterned ice cream truck out of the deal, it’s probably for the best that he decided to get back in front of the camera. He was far from bereft of offers, but most of them were in the same "sidekick" vein as Ron Weasley. The Driving Lessons alum was ready to try something new. After starring in a play on the West End (London’s version of Broadway), he landed a role on the Crackle series Snatch - but his largest role would be in M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant, an Apple TV+ horror series. 

The show follows Philadelphia couple Dorothy and Sean Turner, who endure the loss of their infant son and employ transitory object therapy via a lifelike baby doll to deal with their grief. After hiring a nanny to take care of the "child," they discover their new babysitter has mysterious and frightening powers. Rupert Grint plays Dorothy’s brother, Julian, who becomes involved in the family’s supernatural drama. Servant, which also stars Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, and Nell Tiger Free, has received positive reviews and has most recently been renewed for a fourth and final season. 

The Wizarding World alum will also reteam with M. Night Shyamalan on the director’s next film, Knock at the Cabin, which will be lead by Dave Bautista and will co-star Jonathan Groff. It will be his first movie role in over six years and, if his upward trajectory is any indication, it won’t be the last. Sorry, ice cream truck: it looks like this actor won’t be needing you after all. 

You can catch up with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series, which is available to stream in its entirety with an HBO Max subscription, or check him out in Servant with your Apple TV+ subscription. 

The moment that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was even announced as existing, it was one of those projects that almost instantly conjured the demand for a film adaptation. Always a hot topic of discussion with the legacy cast, it’s always felt so close and yet so far from happening, especially in the age where the slightest rumor of an HBO Max project can lead to huge hypotheticals. With Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint recently addressing the subject yet again, there are some fresh thoughts on whether the eighth Potter story could be adapted with the original cast.

Would Daniel Radcliffe Return For A Harry Potter And The Cursed Child Movie?

In preparation for the release of The Lost City, Daniel Radcliffe spoke with The New York Times. Naturally, the subject of the play that debuted on London’s West End in 2016 had to come up, thanks to original franchise director Chris Columbus stating he’d love to direct a version with the original cast. Radcliffe, knowing the hype surrounding any potential Harry Potter and the Cursed Child film adaptation, gave this honest and truthful answer about potentially playing Harry Potter once more:

On one hand, it’s good to know that even after enduring the pressures of helping define the Harry Potter cinematic legacy, Daniel Radcliffe can look back on the whole enterprise with fondness. You could especially feel that in the most memorable moments from the HBO Max special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. That being said, fondness doesn’t always equate to jumping back onto the broom at a moment’s notice.

Like any good actor who’s connected to a franchise as huge as Harry Potter, Radcliffe has kept his options open. Parroting the same line of wisdom that sprouted from Sean Connery saying he’d “never” play James Bond again, only to return to the role twice, The Lost City actor has invoked the “never say never” clause. Which is funny, as he’s not the only Potter cast member to do so in recent years.

How Rupert Grint And Tom Felton Feel About Returning For A Cursed Child Movie

If you’re going to embark on a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child adaptation, you pretty much need the entire core cast of the first eight films back. At the very least, you’d need Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Tom Felton, so as to keep the key players in line. Luckily enough, the media knows this fact just as well as Wizarding World loyalists, and it’s led to some fun comments like the following statement Rupert Grint previously gave ET:

Never saying never looks like it’s almost the official line of the Harry Potter legacy cast. However, that isn’t exactly true, as there’s another cast member that isn’t afraid of that word, or statements adjacent to its meaning. During an appearance on Red Carpet News TV, Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton joked a bit about the prospect of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child becoming a cinematic experience. Kidding aside, his thoughts on returning to his role differed from his co-stars thusly:

To reject returning to the role is one thing, but to think that there doesn’t need to be a Cursed Child movie at all is another subject altogether. Though Felton had fun taking part in Return to Hogwarts, it doesn’t sound like he’s all that anxious to live out Draco’s older years. Then again, he never said never, which technically puts him in the same boat as Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.

While we don’t know when or if Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will ever become a major motion picture, fans of the Wizarding World can still see it play out on the live stage. As for the cinematic future of J.K. Rowling’s franchise, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore will continue to expand that lore on April 15th. For more details on 2022 movie releases, head over to our full rundown of the movies waiting to debut at a theater near you in the coming year.

As far as family-friendly franchises go, there none quite as popular as Harry Potter. Generations have been brought up on the Wizarding World, starting with J.K. Rowling’s novels, eventually expanding to the movies, theme parks, and even Broadway plays. The nine-film franchise made household names out of the young cast, including Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint. And in a rare interview, Grint has opened up about his baby, and he’s introducing her to Harry Potter.

In the years since the Harry Potter franchise wrapped, Rupert Grint and his co-stars have been keeping busy with a variety of projects. Still, his name will likely always be synonymous with his role as everyone’s favorite Weasley. While Grint and his co-stars have a unique relationship to that franchise, it turns out he’s gradually started introducing the Wizarding World to his young daughter. As he recently shared,

Start them young! While Rupert Grint’s daughter Wednesday may only be around two-years old, it’s just another decade until she’s eligible to receive her Hogwarts letter. And while it’s inevitable that she eventually realizes her father is Ron Weasley, the 33 year-old actor seems to be dipping his toes in those magical waters with his kid.

Rupert Grint’s comments about introducing Harry Potter to his daughter come from a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he was promoting the third season of his Apple TV series Servant. Eventually the conversation turned to Harry Potter, especially since the cast recently reunited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first movie. Perhaps that inspired Grint to slowly start teaching his 2 year-old about his role as Ron Weasley. After all, he’s bloody brilliant as the character.

It’s always fascinating to hear the Harry Potter cast’s relationship to the franchise, especially as more years go by. While many of us re-watch the nine-film franchise regularly, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe aren’t so eager to see younger versions of themselves on the screen. Still, fans are hoping to see another reunion happen via a film adaptation of the plays Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which feature adult versions of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco.

In the same interview on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon asked Rupert Grint a bit more about his daughter Wednesday. When asking about her first word, Grint revealed that she’s got a penchant for dropping the F-bomb. As he put it,

He’s not wrong. Rupert Grint’s character in Servant has a bit of a potty mouth, so it makes sense that the actor’s young daughter might have picked up a few things from hearing him rehearse dialogue. Luckily folks across the pond don’t seem to take the F-word quite as seriously as those of us stateside. 

Rupert Grint currently stars in Servant on Apple, and will once again work with M. Night Shyamalan on his upcoming movie Knock at the Cabin. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

While Rupert Grint is best known for playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, he’s been collecting attention in recent years from TV shows like Sick Note, Snatch, The ABC Murders and Servant. The latter series comes from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan, and it’s been revealed that following their time together on Servant, Shyamalan and Grint are reteaming for what will be the actor’s first movie in over half a decade.

We learned last October that M. Night Shyamalan’s next movie will be called Knock at the Cabin, and two months later, Guardians of the Galaxy’s Dave Bautista was the first actor brought aboard. According to Deadline, Rupert Grint and Nikki Amuka-Bird will be joining Bautista in the cast, although since plot details are being kept close to the vest, we have no idea who they’ll be playing in Knock at the Cabin (which may be a one-shot film). Amuka-Bird is also no stranger to Shyamalan projects, having starred as Patricia Carmichael in Old.

This casting news comes a little under a week after Servant finished its third season on Apple TV+. The show stars Lauren Ambrose’s Dorothy Turner Toby Kebbell’s Sean Turner, a couple who grieve the death of their 13-week-old son Jericho and bring a doll into their home that breaks Dorothy out a canonic state. Dorothy starts believing that this doll is her real child, but when they hire Nell Tiger Free’s Leanne to look after the doll as a nanny, this opens their home to a “mysterious force.” Rupert Grint plays Julian Pearce, Dorothy’s brother and Sean’s brother-in-law, in Servant, which has been renewed for a fourth and final season.

Between the final season of Servant, Knock at the Cabin and the anthology series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, Rupert Grint has quite the supernatural body of work lined up. Grint also recently reunited with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and many of his other Harry Potter costars and collaborators for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription. As far as Nikki Amuka-Bird goes, along with Old, she’s recognizable from Jupiter Ascending, The Laundromat, Luther, Gold Digger and Avenue 5.

Old, M. Night Shyamalan’s last cinematic offering, opened in theaters last July, with the other main cast members including Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Abbey Lee, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen and Aaron Pierre. The movie followed a group of people who finds themselves rapidly aging while visiting a secluded beach. Old was met with mixed critical reception, but it made over $90 million worldwide off a reported $18 million budget.

We here at CinemaBlend will pass along casting updates and any other significant news about Knock at the Cabin, which opens in theaters on February 3, 2023. For now though, our schedule of 2022 movie releases is available for you to peruse. 

Wizarding World fans got a real treat at the beginning of 2022 with the release of Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. The reunion special brought together the film franchise’s three leads and their various co-stars to reflect on their time working on the movies. The result was a heartfelt and satisfying retrospective that included some great segments. As you can imagine, it was an overwhelming situation for some of the stars, including Emma Watson. With this, the actress is opening up about what she found to be the “most emotional” moment for her. 

Watching Emma Watson interact with Daniel Radclffe, Rupert Grint and other stars was entertaining, but one of her best moments came during a one-on-one with Grint. During the intimate exchange, the two friends and colleagues expressed their love and admiration for each other. And this, as Watson told Vogue UK, is what truly stood out for her while filming the special:

It’s lovely to hear just how much Emma Watson appreciated the sentiments not just from Rupert Grint but also Daniel Radcliffe. It can’t be easy for people to break down their personal barriers, especially when they’re on camera. However, the fact that all three stars were so candid was a testament to just how close they still are. Watson even admitted that the trio do keep in touch, despite the fact that they don’t actually have a group chat.

The Beauty and the Beast star had a number of notable moments in Return to Hogwarts. Aside from her heart-to-heart with the Ron Weasley actor, she also had some things to say about Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton, on whom she used to have a crush. Their sentiments amounted to one of their most adorable moments. In addition, the actress also spoke about her initial desire to leave the franchise around the time that Order of the Phoenix went into production. Those who’ve seen the special are also surely aware that there was a funny predicament in which one of the star’s flashback photos was mixed up with one of Emma Roberts’. The mistake was promptly fixed, and the Hermione Granger actress provided a cheeky response to the blunder. 

Other portions of the special have also stuck with longtime fans, such as a sentimental moment in which Hagrid actor Robbie Coltrane discussed the franchise’s legacy. The reunion also paid tribute to the late Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape, as well as other series alums that have since passed on. It was an emotional montage, to say the least. 

It’s hard to say if this will indeed be the final time fans see Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint on a Harry Potter set. But if it is, the stars and the fans that love them are surely satisfied with their long-anticipated catch-up session. Here’s to many more years of friendship and tender moments among the Wizarding World group.

To stream Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts and the eight films themselves, be sure to grab yourself an HBO Max subscription.

The Harry Potter franchise has been entertaining audiences for decades, with a certain generation of fans growing up with the heroes of Hogwarts. And while the Wizarding World continues to grow exponentially, there’s been some drama surrounding its author, and her comments about transgender women. Following the Harry Potter reunion special, Rupert Grint opened up about Rowling and her controversial opinions.

The situation surrounding J.K. Rowling has been ongoing for years, and a number of Harry Potter actors (including starring trio) have come out in support of the transgender community. Rupert Grint issued a number of statements dating back to 2020, and was recently asked about his feelings about Rowling. The Servant star responded, saying:

There you have it. While Rupert Grint seemingly continues to stand by the transgender community, it seems that he’s still got some love for the author of the Harry Potter franchise. It’s likely a complicated mixture of emotions, especially considering just how young he was when debuting as Ron Weasley in The Sorcerer’s Stone.

Rupert Grint’s comments to The Times have quickly started going viral, as J.K. Rowling has continued speaking out about her opinions on gender and activism via social media. And with the author’s continued presence in Harry Potter via the Fantastic Beasts franchise, this discourse surrounding her views and how it might affect trans individuals is showing no signs of slowing down.

As previously mentioned, the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling has been ongoing for a few years now. Various members of the Harry Potter franchise came out in support of transgender folks at the time, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The Ron Weasley icon’s original comments can be seen below,

While the Wizarding World continues to grow thanks to stage plays, theme parks, and the aforementioned Fantastic Beasts movies, some fans have abandoned the property as a result of J.K. Rowling’s comments. She was noticeably absent from Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, with the author’s comments used via archival interviews. The situation was also not addressed in the streaming special, with the HBO Max event instead being a celebration of the cast’s years spent on set. 

Potterheads out there are no doubt excited to dive back into the Wizarding World when David Yates’ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore finally arrives in theaters on April 15th. The prequel series is getting more and more connected to Harry Potter, with The Crimes of Grindelwald including Nagini, McGonagall, and the Elder Wand. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.