Rupert Grint Is Officially Returning as Ron Weasley, and ‘Harry Potter’ Fans Have Feelings
‘Harry Potter’ has entered one of the busiest stretches of its post-film life, with new adaptations, stage productions, and fresh young faces all vying for attention across film, television, and theater simultaneously. Amid all that expansion, longtime fans are getting a moment that blends nostalgia with something genuinely new.
That moment centers on Rupert Grint, the actor who first brought Ron Weasley to life across all eight films and hasn’t played the character in any capacity since ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2’ wrapped filming back in 2011. His name returning to the wizarding world conversation carries weight for a fandom that’s watched the franchise evolve without its original cast for over a decade.
Grint is officially set to reprise the role of Ron Weasley in the Broadway production of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ joining the cast at New York’s Lyric Theatre for a limited 17-week engagement running from February 2, 2027, through May 30, 2027. The announcement makes him the second original film star to return to the stage production, following Tom Felton’s earlier run as Draco Malfoy, which reportedly gave ticket sales a significant boost.
Grint addressed the return in a personal statement, reflecting on just how long the character has been part of his life. “Ron Weasley has been a part of me since I was 11 years old and I can’t wait to meet him again in this stage of life,” Grint said, adding that stepping back into the role now that he’s a father himself feels both familiar and completely new.
The timing of the announcement lines up closely with another major ‘Harry Potter’ milestone. HBO’s television adaptation of the franchise premieres on December 25, with a cast of newcomers taking on the original trio, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout stepping into the role of a young Ron Weasley for the small screen.
That overlap hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans, some of whom have voiced mixed reactions to Grint’s decision given his previous comments distancing himself from author J.K. Rowling’s public statements. Grint has said in the past that he doubts he’ll ever fully step out of Ron Weasley’s shadow, though he’s also expressed genuine curiosity about how HBO’s new adaptation will reinterpret the material for a new generation.
‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ picks up 19 years after the events of ‘The Deathly Hallows,’ following an adult Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco as they navigate a new threat involving their own children at Hogwarts. The production’s producers, Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, praised Grint’s original performance as having defined what loyalty and bravery looked like for an entire generation of fans, while noting they watched him grow up on screen through the role.
The current Broadway cast, which includes actors like John Skelley as Harry Potter and Emmet Smith as Albus Potter, will welcome Grint into the fold this winter as part of what producers are framing as a full-circle moment for both the actor and longtime fans of the franchise. Given how strongly Felton’s earlier appearance resonated with audiences, Grint’s arrival seems likely to generate similar excitement once tickets become available.
Are you excited to see Rupert Grint return as Ron Weasley on Broadway?
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