Encouraging words for Harry Potter’s new Ron Weasley, courtesy of Rupert Grint
With a young successor entering Hogwarts, Rupert Grint takes stock of Ron Weasley—and caps it with a quietly sweet gesture Potter fans felt.
Before filming kicked off on HBO ’s new take on Hogwarts, Rupert Grint sat down and wrote a note to the kid picking up Ron Weasley’s wand. He told Entertainment Tonight he reached out to Alastair Stout ahead of production to offer a little encouragement and a handoff from one redhead to another.
“I wrote him a letter, before they started, passing the baton as it were. I had so much fun stepping into this world, and I hope he has the same experience.”
Grint said it’s surreal to watch the casting carousel start again after the days when he, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson first walked into the Great Hall. He even joked there’s a family resemblance between him and Stout. As for popping up himself, Grint hasn’t announced any cameo in the series.
The new HBO series
The first season is an eight-episode adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, following Harry’s first year at Hogwarts. It’s a fresh start with a brand-new cast playing the iconic roles.
Season 1 cast
- McLaughlin — Harry Potter
- Arabella Stanton — Hermione Granger
- Alastair Stout — Ron Weasley
- John Lithgow — Albus Dumbledore
- Janet McTeer — Minerva McGonagall
- Paapa Essiedu — Severus Snape
- Nick Frost — Rubeus Hagrid
- Lox Pratt — Draco Malfoy
Chamber of Secrets already booked
The show has already been renewed for a second season adapting Chamber of Secrets. Newly announced additions include:
- Kit Harington — Gilderoy Lockhart
- Rafe Spall — Arthur Weasley
- Billy Barratt — Tom Riddle
- Lenny Rush — Dobby
- Bonnie Hill — Ginny Weasley
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone premieres December 25, 2026 on HBO and Max.