Rupert Grint has become the subject of fierce online vitriol from anti-JK Rowling activists after it was announced he will reprise his Ron Weasley role.
It was revealed on Wednesday that the actor, 38, who played the wizard in the eight Harry Potter films, will appear in the Cursed Child on Broadway next year.
Rupert will appear at the Lyric Theatre for a 17-week run from February 2, as he becomes the second star from the films to join the stage sequel after Tom Felton.
Tom returned as Draco Malfoy at the end of last year and his role has been extended until January 2027, just weeks before Rupert will join the show.
Speaking about his involvement, Rupert said: ‘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.’
However, while Rupert is feeling positive about his part in the show, the news was poorly received by some who branded him a ‘hypocrite’ for taking part.
Rupert Grint has become the subject of fierce online vitriol from anti-JK Rowling activists after it was announced he will reprise his Ron Weasley role
It was revealed on Wednesday that the actor, 38, who played the wizard in the eight Harry Potter films, will appear in the Cursed Child on Broadway next year
Many reminded him that he had previously been clear that he disagrees with JK Rowling on transgender issues.
In June 2020, after JK made a series of comments about sex and transgender people, Rupert publicly responded: ‘I firmly stand with the trans community… Trans women are women. Trans men are men.’
He added that everyone should be able to live ‘with love and without judgment’. But Rupert has also expressed affection for JK personally.
In a later piece for The Times, he described her as his ‘auntie’ and said: ‘I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she’s still my auntie.’
Sharing their thoughts on X after the news, critics said: ‘I’m irritated bro, wtf do you mean Rupert Grint is joining Cursed Child?’; ‘It took me an embarrassing amount of time to iron my clothes for Bristol and I come back and my reward is Rupert Grint being a f***ing sell out?’;
‘Rupert Grint joining Tom Felton in the ranks of broke and spineless. Okay. These people are genuinely disgusting I have no words’; ‘Oh FFS Rupert Grint!? Really? (He’s apparently joining the HP play on Broadway)’; ‘RUPERT GRINT NOOO YOU HAVE A JOB STOP THIS JOBLESS BEHAVIOR’;
‘Another day, another disappointing childhood icon’.
However, while Rupert is feeling positive about his part in the show, the news was poorly received by some who branded him a ‘hypocrite’ for taking part
However, some anticipated the backlash and shared their support for Rupert.
They said: Uh oh! The trans activists LOVED Rupert Grint because he says he supports trans people. Are they gonna decide to hate him now or still consider him to be a supporter?’; ‘Crazy people with stones on their heads instead of brains that are against JK Rowling foaming at their mouths 3..2..1’;
‘Amazing! When will the Harry Potter and JK haters realise you’re a very very small but very loud and annoying minority. HP continues to sell and be loved by far more’;
‘Wizarding news already wondering why he took the job, and why “JK allows this”. I don’t know maybe she’s not as “evil” as you’d like to suggest she is?’.
Daily Mail have contacted Rupert Grint’s spokesperson for comment.
The news comes shortly after it was announced Nicholas Hoult was dropping out of the Harry Potter HBO series remake following an online pile on.
Nicholas backed out of his role as Gilderoy Lockhart in the upcoming Harry Potter second series amid mounting backlash over his involvement.
It was announced less than a fortnight ago that the actor had been cast in the much-anticipated HBO remake.
But following backlash from the trans lobby, he has pulled out of the project – blaming ‘scheduling issues’. Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington will play the part instead.
Nicholas Hoult has backed out of his role in the upcoming Harry Potter series after a pile-on by the trans lobby, less than two weeks after his casting was announced
He was meant to play the role of the charming yet conniving professor, Gilderoy Lockhart. The role was played by Kenneth Branagh in the second Harry Potter film
Harry Potter author Rowling is a fierce defender of women’s rights, but has been labelled transphobic by some campaigners.
Many of the actors taking up roles in the new series have faced the wrath of her critics, who believe any remakes of her work should be boycotted. Rowling serves as an executive producer on HBO’s show.
After the announcement was made that the actor would star in the series, a fan account dedicated to the Skins star, Houltdaily, wrote on X: ‘Pausing any posts on this account for the time being. Nicholas Hoult do better, so many of your fans are hurt.’
Another account posted: ‘I’m going to just log off indefinitely for now. I really have no idea what I’m going to do. I genuinely have no idea.’
‘Incredibly disappointed. Used to be one of my favourite actors but oh well!’ added another.
Hoult made the U-turn less than a fortnight after his involvement was announced.
He had been set to play the conniving but charming Professor Lockhart from the series’ second book, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets.
The role has now been given to Harington, who voiced the part of Lockhart for Audible’s star-studded Harry Potter audiobooks.
Reflecting on his part in the audiobook, Harington previously told Variety: ‘It was a really simple yes, because I love the character.
‘As far as cameos in a series go, you don’t get much more entertaining and fun to do as an actor than Gilderoy Lockhart. It was a no-brainer.’
The role was first played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 blockbuster film, which earned more than $883million at the worldwide box office.
In Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, Lockhart is a famous author and temporary Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts.
Games Of Thrones star Kit Harington has now been drafted in to take Hoult’s place
The HBO reboot of Harry Potter will see 12-year-old Dominic McLaughlin play Harry after the role was famously portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, now 37
Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton will complete the trio as Hermione Granger. Pictured: The trio in March
The self-obsessed character notably takes credit for other wizards’ ‘heroic deeds’ after wiping their memories.
Filming for the second season of Harry Potter is expected to start this autumn, while the first season will come out on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day.
Nicholas is no stranger to playing a villain, having previously portrayed Lex Luthor in the 2025 Superman film.
The actor has gained mainstream Hollywood recognition after famously enjoying TV success in the UK young adult series Skins, as well as Hulu comedy series The Great, for which he earned both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
The HBO reboot of Harry Potter will see 12-year-old Dominic McLaughlin play Harry. The role was first portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, now 37.
Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley, previously played by Rupert Grint, 38, and Arabella Stanton will complete the trio as Hermione Granger, who was played by Emma Watson, 36, in the iconic 2000s films.
Speaking recently about landing the titular role, McLaughlin told the BBC: ‘I was always a huge Harry Potter fan when I was younger. And it was like the dream role, of course.’
He also called it a ‘bit surreal’, adding: ‘I’m thrilled to be able to be doing it.’
Nick Frost is playing the role of Rubeus Hagrid, with John Lithgow taking on the role of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Janet McTeer playing Professor McGonagall.
Details about the new show have been kept tightly under wraps. However, Rowling said in a post on X in June last year that she had read the scripts of the first two episodes – calling them ‘SO, SO, SO GOOD’.
