Rupert Grint Breaks Silence on HBO’s New Ron Weasley: It Feels Strange
Rupert Grint says watching HBO’s book-faithful Harry Potter reboot cast a new Ron Weasley is a surreal full-circle moment as the streamer locks in a fresh, young ensemble.
HBO is rebuilding Hogwarts from the ground up, and yes, the original crew is watching it happen in real time. Rupert Grint just weighed in on being replaced as Ron Weasley for the new, closer-to-the-books series, and his reaction is basically: weird, but kind of thrilling.
Rupert Grint on seeing a new Ron take over
Grint told the BBC the whole thing feels surreal — like time looping back on itself — but he is genuinely curious to see how a fresh version plays. He even joked that he spots a bit of a family resemblance with Alastair Stout, the new Ron, which is either comforting or spooky depending on your mood.
His take is pretty healthy: this reboot should be its own thing, not a reenactment. He sounds excited to watch it unfold, rather than possessive about the scarf and wand.
Radcliffe and Grint quietly welcomed the new kids
The originals aren’t hovering over the new trio; they’re handing them the keys and stepping back. Daniel Radcliffe told Good Morning America he sent a note to 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, who’s playing Harry, offering encouragement without casting a shadow. He put it this way:
"I hope you have the best time, and an even better time than I did. I had a great time, but I hope you have an even better one."
Grint did the same for Alastair Stout — a private letter he described as a symbolic 'passing of the baton,' wishing the new Ron the same kind of ride he had growing up with the role. It’s a warm, respectful handoff as HBO assembles its young cast.
The cast so far
HBO unveiled the new main trio in late May 2025: Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Earlier in the year, the network also announced several big adult roles — including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore (an unexpected, oddly perfect swing), Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. The rest of the lineup rolled out across summer and fall 2025 and spans leads, classmates, professors, and beyond. One especially fun note: original star Warwick Davis is back as Professor Filius Flitwick.
- Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
- Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley
- Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley
- Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy
- Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy
- Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
- Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil
- Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom
- Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan
- Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown
- Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley
- Tristan and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George Weasley
- Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley
- Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley
- Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge
- Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley
- Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch
- Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander
- Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick
- Leigh Gill as Griphook
- Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas
- Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe
- William Nash as Gregory Goyle
- Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout
- Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns
- Bríd Brennan as Madam Poppy Pomfrey
What’s next
Production is moving ahead on HBO’s book-faithful take, with a premiere expected in 2027 on HBO and Max. As more pieces lock in, the vibe from the originals feels clear: curiosity, support, and a clean slate for the next generation.
How are you feeling about this cast so far? Who nailed the vibe for you, and who’s the wild card?