Talks of a Harry Potter movie sequel have abounded in recent years, but what have the original stars said about returning? It’s been 10 years since the Harry Potter original film series ended, though viewer interest in a direct sequel has been anticipated since the Jack Thorne-written sequel play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child debuted in 2016. Since then, the original stars like Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have been routinely questioned about the possibility of reprising their iconic roles in a movie adaptation.
Although the original Harry Potter movies concluded in 2011, the franchise has continued with the Fantastic Beasts prequel movie series. Considering the newer films haven’t reached the same widespread acclaim as the originals, viewers are all the more eager to see the core characters back on the big screen. However, it appears some of the main actors were more excited to be leaving Harry Potter in their past after more than a decade of filming rather than anticipating future reprisals.
With HBO Max working on rebooting beloved franchises, Harry Potter - as a Warner Bros. property - was one of the most anticipated revival projects, especially with Cursed Child being open for a screen adaptation. After years of speculation about bringing back the original cast for a Cursed Child movie, original Harry Potter movie director Chris Columbus has increased viewer excitement by declaring his hopes of adapting the sequel with the original cast. The film hasn’t been greenlit or announced yet, but it does warrant the question of whether the Harry Potter actors would even consider coming back. Here’s what the original stars have said about returning for a Harry Potter sequel so far.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the titular wizard in all eight movies, doesn’t seem to be against the idea of returning. In an interview (via Good Morning Britain), Radcliffe explained he would have to “think about it” but expects the idea of returning to be more theoretical and would happen further into the future. Though not in reference to a direct Harry Potter film series sequel, Daniel Radcliffe has also commented on being interested in appearing in a reboot spin-off. Warner Bros. reviving the franchise has led to speculation of a Harry Potter TV series, with Radcliffe saying if it happened, he would like to return as Sirius Black or Remus Lupin. Radcliffe hasn’t commented on returning since Chris Columbus’s announcement, but it's possible the original Harry Potter director could convince him to return. A proper Harry Potter sequel movie wouldn’t work without Daniel Radcliffe playing The Boy Who Lived again, so he would have to be the director’s first priority.
Unfortunately, Daniel Radcliffe shot down the idea of returning as Harry Potter any time soon in an interview with The New York Times. Radcliffe has been trying to shake his Harry Potter persona for a number of years now, and he's been enjoying his career outside of the Harry Potter universe. He compared his reappearance to that of Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford in the new Star Wars movies, saying "[...] the Star Wars guys had like 30, 40 years before they went back. For me, it's only been 10." Frankly, he can't be blamed for his opinion. After all, he spent most of his childhood as the Boy Who Lived, and Daniel Radcliffe's career outside of that image had a slow start but has been continuing to grow over the recent years. In the interest of fully shedding that image, he'd like to wait a little while longer.
Rupert Grint
Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint has been the most forthcoming about a possible return to Harry Potter, stating he would only reprise his role if the other original stars did, too. Grint has been “protective” over his Harry Potter character, explaining it felt odd to see someone else portraying Ron in the Cursed Child play. He doesn’t expect to be involved with the possible Harry Potter TV series reboot but hopes it would follow a different group of magically-inclined students rather than the originals. In a past interview (via ComicBook), Grint said he’d be up for returning in a film “at the right time,” which aligns with Radcliffe’s comments on contemplating a reprisal in the future.
Emma Watson
Having moved on to a separate blockbuster career after starring in films like Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Women, recruiting Emma Watson may be more difficult than the other original stars. The Hermione Granger actress hasn’t made many comments on returning, with her last major response being in 2017, stating “there’s nothing planned at the moment,” but to ask her again in 10 years (via Refinery29). While less direct, Watson’s response aligns with Radcliffe and Grint, suggesting Chris Columbus will need to wait a few more years until the actors are ready for a Cursed Child movie. Rumors spread in 2020 that Emma Watson had retired from acting, but such theories were adamantly debunked by Watson and her representatives, which means there’s still a chance for her to return in the franchise's future.
Tom Felton
Out of all of Harry Potter’s original stars, the actor most eager to reprise his role is Tom Felton. Having already portrayed the Harry Potter antagonist Draco Malfoy for a decade, Felton would return to the role in a heartbeat if asked. The actor said he would dye his hair blonde and play Lucius, Draco, or Draco Malfoy’s son if given the chance. Just like Rupert Grint, Felton feels “slightly protective” over his Harry Potter character, meaning the film role being offered to another actor would not go over well. If Chris Columbus is working on recruiting the original actors, he knows the first place to go is Tom Felton. The opportunity to reprise Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy in Cursed Child would also give Tom Felton the chance to play the character in a new light, having grown into a far more sympathetic character as an adult.
In an interview with People Tom Felton enthusiastically expressed his interest in returning as Draco Malfoy. When presented with the idea of an upcoming sequel, Felton exclaimed "If you're asking me will I dye my hair blonde again to be Draco, abso-bloody-lutely. Either [him or Lucius]. I'll play Draco's kid if you really want! Any chance to be a Malfoy again would be greatly accepted.". He also expressed that he feels a bit of ownership over the role itself and would have a difficult time if studios decided to cast anyone else as Draco Malfoy post the Harry Potter series. According to Felton, many of the cast members still keep in touch and all of them have discussed the prospect of returning to play their respective roles in another Harry Potter movie.
Bonnie Wright
While Tom Felton would eagerly jump at the chance to return, the Harry Potter actor who wouldn’t is Ginny Weasley’s portrayer Bonnie Wright. While Wright clarified that she misses playing Ginny, she also hopes the Harry Potter movies stay as they were, feeling the story only needs to be confined to those seven years. Ginny Weasley’s actress may not be anxious to return to Harry Potter, but back in 2016, she said to “never say never” about coming back (via Telegraph). If the rest of the original cast came back for a Harry Potter sequel, it seems it would be hard for Wright to say no.
Matthew Lewis
Like Bonnie Wright, the Neville Longbottom actor is under a "never say never" mindset about returning as his iconic Harry Potter character. Lewis shared (via RadioTimes.com) that he feels Neville's story was completed in the original series, and he wouldn't come back to play him in a sequel just "for the sake of it." He explained that if a project was brilliantly conceived, he would consider returning to Harry Potter as Neville.
Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus' interest in the realm of Harry Potter lies solely in the prospect of a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child movie. Though not officially written by Rowling herself, the HP sequel did relatively well on the stage and Columbus would be more than happy to return in order to direct. He cites that the original cast is at the perfect age to play the adult Harry Potter trio and the prospect of casting the second generation is an exciting one. Columbus believes that the only way to make more Harry Potter movies would be to rely on already written source material, rather than something new about say, the Marauders, a Voldemort-centered prequel, or a television series.
Will Harry Potter & The Cursed Child Ever Happen?
As of now, there's no official news as to whether or not Harry Potter and the Cursed Child could actually happen. Nothing has been slated for filming and it's doubtful that the movie would come to fruition first without Daniel Radcliffe's approval. Since Radcliffe has expressly stated he's not ready to return as the Boy Who Lived, audiences likely won't get to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for quite some time, because the movie really hinges on Radcliffe's decision on whether to return. Harry Potter fans will have to watch the Fantastic Beasts franchise in the meantime, in order to get their dose of Potter lore.
