Rupert Grint, the beloved actor who defined the role of Ron Weasley for a generation, has extended a warm welcome to his successor in the magical franchise.
A Magical Baton Pass
The 37-year-old actor, now a father of two, revealed he reached out to Alastair Stout, the young actor cast as the new Ron Weasley in HBO's upcoming television adaptation of Harry Potter. Grint made the announcement while attending the Highgate Christmas lights switch-on in north London over the weekend.
Reflecting on his own journey, which began when he was just 11 years old, Grint described the profound impact of playing Ron Weasley in all eight films from 2000 for a decade. He was cast alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, forming the iconic trio that became globally famous.
Embracing a New Generation
Following Daniel Radcliffe's revelation that he sent a letter to new Harry Potter actor Dominic McLaughlin, Grint confirmed he has done the same for Alastair Stout.
"I wrote him a letter, before they started, passing the baton as it were," Grint told the BBC. "It was really just wishing him all the best with it. I had so much fun stepping into this world, and I hope he has the same experience."
Discussing the new series, which has generated some controversy, Grint expressed enthusiasm. "I think it's great that it's a whole new thing. It's going to be its own thing, and I think that will be fun."
Living in Ron's Shadow
When asked if he felt burdened by the long shadow of his famous role, Grint responded emphatically, "absolutely not."
"It has a quite deep meaning to a lot of people of my generation, and even more to generations who are finding it now," he explained. "It's great. It gives me a lot of pride. It was such a huge thing. I don't think I'll ever quite step out of his shadow, but I'm fine with that."
The actor also addressed questions about a potential return to the wizarding world, similar to Tom Felton's current Broadway appearance as an adult Draco Malfoy. While saying he would "never say never," Grint admitted he is currently enjoying "stepping out of the world."
Production on the HBO series is currently underway, with the first installment expected to be released in 2027. The cast includes several notable names:
- John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore
- Warwick Davies reprising his role as Professor Flitwick
- Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
- Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
- Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy
- Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley
- Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid
The new generation of young witches and wizards will be portrayed by Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, alongside Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
