Rupert Grint has become the subject of fierce online vitriol from anti-JK Rowling activists after it was announced he will be reprising his role as Ron Weasley.
It was announced on Wednesday that the 38-year-old actor, who played the wizard in the eight Harry Potter films, will appear in Cursed Child on Broadway next year.
Rupert will appear at the Lyric Theater for 17 weeks from February 2, becoming the second star from the films to join the 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 joins the show.
Commenting on his involvement, Rupert said: ‘Ron Weasley has been a part of me since I was eleven years old and I can’t wait to meet him again at this stage of his life.’
Although Rupert has been positive about his part in the show, the news was poorly received by some who branded him ‘hypocritical’ for taking part.
Rupert Grint has become the subject of fierce online vitriol from anti-JK Rowling activists after it was announced he will be reprising his role as Ron Weasley
It was announced on Wednesday that the 38-year-old actor, who played the wizard in the eight Harry Potter films, will appear in Cursed Child on Broadway next year.
Many reminded him that he had previously made it clear that he disagreed with JK Rowling on transgender issues.
In June 2020, after JK made a series of comments about sex and trans people, Rupert responded publicly: “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 judgement.” But Rupert has also expressed his affection for JK personally.
In a later piece for The Times, he described her as his “aunt” and said: “I don’t necessarily agree with everything my aunt says, but she’s still my aunt.”
Critics shared their thoughts on ‘It took me an embarrassing amount of time to iron my clothes for Bristol and I come back and my reward is that Rupert Grint has all but sold out?’;
“Rupert Grint joins Tom Felton in the ranks of the broke and spineless. Okay. These people are truly disgusting. I have no words for it’; ‘Oh FFS Rupert Grint!? Real? (He’s apparently in the HP play on Broadway)’; ‘RUPERT GRINT NO YOU HAVE A JOB STOP THIS JOBLESS BEHAVIOR’;
“Another day, another disappointing youth icon.”
Although Rupert has been positive about his part in the show, the news was poorly received by some who branded him ‘hypocritical’ for taking part.
However, some anticipated the backlash and shared their support for Rupert.
They said: Oh oh! The trans activists loved Rupert Grint because he says he supports trans people. Are they now going to decide to hate him or still consider him a supporter?’; ‘Crazy people with rocks on their heads instead of brains who are against JK Rowling foaming at the mouth 3..2..1’;
‘Amazing! When will the Harry Potter and JK haters realize that you are a very, very small, but very vocal and obnoxious minority. HP continues to outsell and be loved’;
“Wizard News is already wondering why he took the job and why ‘JK is allowing this.’ I don’t know, maybe she’s not as ‘bad’ as you would like to suggest?’
Daily Mail has contacted spokesperson Rupert Grint for comment.
The news comes shortly after it was announced that Nicolas Hoult would be quitting the remake of the Harry Potter HBO series following a backlash online.
Nicolas pulled out of his role as Gilderoy Lockhart in the upcoming Harry Potter second series, amid mounting backlash over his involvement.
Less than two weeks ago, it was announced that the actor had been cast in the highly anticipated HBO remake.
But after backlash from the transgender lobby, he pulled out of the project, blaming “scheduling issues.” Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington will play the role instead.
Nicholas Hoult has pulled out of his role in the upcoming Harry Potter series following a backlash from the trans lobby, less than two weeks after his casting was announced
He was supposed to play the role of the charming but 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 labeled as transphobic by some campaigners.
Many of the actors starring in the new series have faced the wrath of her critics, who believe any remake of her work should be boycotted. Rowling serves as executive producer for the HBO 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: “For now, all posts on this account are paused. Nicholas Hoult is doing better, so a lot of your fans are hurt.”
Another account posted: ‘I’m logging out indefinitely for now. I really have no idea what I’m going to do. I really have no idea.’
‘Incredibly disappointed. Used to be one of my favorite actors, but oh well!’ added another.
Hoult made the U-turn less than a fortnight after his involvement was announced.
He would play the conniving but charming Professor Lockhart from the second book of the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The role has now gone to Harington, who played Lockhart for Audible’s star-studded Harry Potter audiobooks.
Reflecting on his part in the audiobook, Harington previously told Variety: “It was a very simple yes, because I love the character.
“As far as cameos in a series go, much more fun 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 grossed more than $883 million worldwide.
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Lockhart is a famous author and temporary professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts 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 played by Daniel Radcliffe, now 37
Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton will complete the trio as Hermione Granger. In the photo: the trio in March
The self-obsessed character notably takes credit for other wizards’ “heroics” after erasing their memories.
Filming for the second season of Harry Potter is expected to begin this fall, while the first season will be released on Christmas Day on HBO and HBO Max.
Nicholas is no stranger to playing a villain, having previously played Lex Luthor in the 2025 Superman film.
The actor has achieved mainstream Hollywood recognition after rising to fame with TV successes in the British young adult series Skins and the Hulu comedy series The Great, for which he earned both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
In the HBO reboot of Harry Potter, 12-year-old Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry. The role was first played 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.
Recently speaking about the title role, McLaughlin told the BBC: ‘I was always a big Harry Potter fan when I was younger. And of course it looked like the dream role.”
He also called it a “bit surreal,” adding, “I’m really happy I can do it.”
Nick Frost plays the role of Rubeus Hagrid, while John Lithgow takes on the role of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Janet McTeer takes on the role of Professor McGonagall.
Details about the new show have been kept tightly under wraps. However, Rowling said in a post on
