The Harry Potter movies were a cultural phenomenon. And they remain as relevant today as they did when they concluded a little over a decade ago. Between projects like the Fantastic Beasts movies and the upcoming open-world game Hogwarts Legacy, the Wizarding World continues to thrive. How does a small screen reboot sound?
Of course, there’s been an ongoing rumor that Warner Bros. Discovery is planning to reboot the Harry Potter movies with a new cast. And there’s another rumor that suggests the books could be adapted as a TV series. Nothing is confirmed, but it provides food for thought.
Rupert Grint, who started playing Ron Weasley at age 11, recently addressed the speculation of a reboot, and gave his blessing to the next generation of stars. “I’d love to see Harry Potter be adapted into a TV show,” he told GQ. “I think it would really work. I’m sure the films will get remade, anyway.”
At this point, Grint has been associated with Ron Weasley for so long that he even responds to being called Ron. It was the role of a lifetime and he is somewhat protective of it. However, if the right actor were to come along, he’d happily let them take the reins:
"I think there’d be a feeling of passing the baton, letting someone else play Ron. It’s weird because I’m protective over him, I could relate to him so much, and then I was picked to bring him to life. That’s hard to let go. But it would be nice to, as well."
The casting for the Harry Potter movies will go down as some of the best of all time. I mean, besides from the obvious three, how do you cast someone who is not Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid? Or Alan Rickman as Professor Snape? Trying to recast these is fighting a losing battle.
Playing Ron Weasley in Harry Potter was “quite suffocating”
While filming the Harry Potter movies, Grint suffered from some terrible tonsillitis, which massively hindered his enjoyment of the filming process. His hectic schedule meant he was never able to receive treatment until after the final movie. Yikes.
“While I was filming, there was never any time to get them out,” he said. “From Goblet to the end of the franchise, I was just ill. My tonsils were absolutely massive.”
He says his tonsils became symbolic of his heavy workload. “They became a metaphor, really. So as soon as I finished my work, I got them removed. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
Ultimately, Grint admits that Harry Potter represents the peak of his career. Given its cultural impact, not much else comes close. “I think I peaked, in terms of doing something that has such an impact,” he said. Whoever next plays Ronald Weasley, your work is cut out for you. Good luck!
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