Andrew Garfield Reveals How He Really Feels About Playing a Beloved Harry Potter Character

HBO is finally moving on its Harry Potter series, and right on cue, the fan-casting machine is revving up. The latest name back in the mix for Remus Lupin: Andrew Garfield. Yes, that Andrew Garfield. And yes, he has thoughts... sort of.

Why everyone keeps linking Garfield to Lupin

This isn't new. Fans have been tossing Garfield into the Lupin conversation since the 2010s, especially when a Marauders prequel was rumored. Back then, he was asked by the BBC if he'd play Lupin and gave the most diplomatic answer possible: he'd consider any role if it was offered. Non-answer, but fair.

Lupin, for the record, was played by David Thewlis in the original films and became a fan favorite. So any recast is going to be a whole thing.

Garfield just started watching the movies. Like, now.

In a recent GQ interview, Garfield got dragged back into the Lupin discourse. He didn't say yes, he didn't say no. What he did say is that he's only just now getting into the movies, after seeing a fan comment that yelled "REMUS LUPIN???" at him online.

"You know what, I just started watching the Harry Potter films for the first time. I'm very late to the game. I just started the third film. I'm really enjoying them. They're really, really good films. Really good stories."

That third film he's talking about is "Prisoner of Azkaban," which is also Lupin's big entrance. So if Garfield was ever going to catch the Lupin bug, that's the moment.

The age math isn't exactly friendly

If HBO is adapting one book per season, Lupin wouldn't show up until the "Prisoner of Azkaban" season. Given how long shows take now (and the plan to go book-by-book), we're probably not seeing that until around 2029 if everything actually stays on track. Which brings us to the numbers:

• Remus Lupin in the books: early 30s when he shows up.
• Andrew Garfield: 42 right now, and he'd be pushing his late 40s by the time season 3 likely lands.
• For what it's worth: David Thewlis was in his early 40s when he debuted as Lupin in the films, so the movies have already bent the age a bit.

So yeah, Garfield was once a dream pick for a younger, Marauders-era Lupin. In this series timeline? He's on the older end. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's part of the calculus.

So... is he actually in the mix?

There's no yes, no, or even a maybe from him. The Spider-Man star is enjoying the films and seems open in general, but that's as far as it goes. If the show stays literal about ages, it's a stretch. If they prioritize vibe and performance over birthdate, there's precedent.

Would you want Garfield as Lupin this time around? I can see the argument both ways.

If you're catching up like Garfield, the Harry Potter movies are streaming on Max in the US.