Matthew Lewis (Neville) is (mostly) uninterested in returning for the new Harry Potter TV show
By Ashley Hurst
Matthew Lewis played Gryffindor wizard Neville Longbottom throughout all eight Harry Potter movies, becoming a fan-favorite character with one of the most memorable arcs. But now, over a decade after the movies came to a conclusion, he considers his wizarding world journey closed, and he's not looking to return for Max's upcoming Harry Potter TV show.
Max announced a rebooted Harry Potter series in 2023. The announcement received some backlash from devoted Potterheads. Do we really need a series? We already have eight fantastic movies, right? The whole idea had the feel of a cash-grab, profiting from a property that is guaranteed to make millions, rather than investing in fresh new stories.
Either way, a Harry Potter series is coming, and there's nothing we can do to stop it. Max wants each season to cover one of J.K. Rowling's books. The original Harry Potter cast have mostly come out in support of the new series. For instance, Daniel Radcliffe himself has urged viewers to support the new cast.
Most recently, Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) weighed in on the forthcoming adaptation. When asked about whether he'd return for the show, he said he's not seeking it out, but nor would he turn down an offer. “It’s not something I’m looking at or want to do but would not turn my nose up at,” Lewis told PEOPLE.
With that said, however, should the writers decide to change things up, he could be persuaded to return. “I’d be very interested to see if it was Neville as an adult — a whole different vibe. That could be interesting. I would certainly look at that and consider it.”
The main reason that Lewis isn't keen on returning is due to the fact that he's moved on from the role. He doesn't look back, but always has his eyes set on the next part. Plus, he lacks the attention span to play the same character for extended periods of time. “The reason I got into this job in the first place was because I have a very short attention span,” he explained. “I am very, very poor at maintaining anything for any length of time. I’ve had many, many hobbies and passions over the years. Not a single one do I still do. I fall madly in love with things and then almost immediately forget about them.”
I can respect that he's moved on. His version of Neville Longbottom will forever be immortalized in the Harry Potter movies. However, should he want to cameo in the Max series, or even play a different character, you won't see me complaining! Max's Harry Potter show is currently in the early stages of development — don't expect to see it premiere anytime soon!
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