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Credit: UniversalOne actor is officially heading back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
It’s been well over 10 years since the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011), and yet fans are still clamoring to see more of Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley).
While the actors have definitely aged out of their Hogwarts era, there were hopes that they may reprise their roles for a film adaptation of the Broadway and West End stage-show “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” for which the actors are now nearing the correct canonical age.
However, lately, a rift has emerged between the actors and the franchise’s creator, JK Rowling. The latter has become deeply engaged in gender identity criticism on social media in recent years, earning herself the common nickname of a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) for her stance on the transgender community.
Since then, all three of the franchise’s main actors have professed their own opposing opinions, leading to Rowling openly declaring that she would not accept their apologies (in the unlikely circumstances that they ever actually come, that is) and Radcliffe responding that the situation is “sad.”
For that reason, it’s been said that the actors are reluctant to return (despite Warner Bros. Discovery hoping otherwise and even allegedly looking for a way to buy Rowling out of the franchise).
But with the upcoming opening of the third Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at Universal Orlando Resort’s new theme park, Epic Universe, some had hoped that the trio would still reprise their role for the area’s new attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. According to Universal, this will feature Harry, Ron, and Hermione alongside Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) and a new house-elf character named Higgledy.
In reality, this attraction will likely use a combination of archive footage and voice actors. This wouldn’t be the first time Universal has done this; neither Radcliffe nor Watson returned to voice their characters for the last Wizarding World expansion, with only Rupert Grint reprising his role.
However, that doesn’t mean we won’t get to see any Harry Potter actors back in action. According to Entertainment Weekly, Eddie Redmayne — who played Newt Scamander, the lead of the doomed Harry Potter spinoff series Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them — has filmed new footage for Epic Universe.
While we don’t know where exactly Newt will pop up, Entertainment Weekly claims that his scenes are touted to play in various locations throughout the Ministry of Magic land, which will cover two time periods and settings: 1920s Paris (as seen in Fantastic Beasts) and 1990s London (as seen in Harry Potter).
Other highlights in the land include a live theatre show, Le Cirque Arcanus, which will feature live performers, aerialists, puppetry, and special effects, with the production following Ringmaster Skender after he steals Newt Scamander’s suitcase.
Beyond Epic Universe, there are plenty of other Harry Potter projects on the horizon. Not only do we have HBO’s remake of Harry Potter to look forward to – which currently has no premiere timeframe but will adapt one book per season – but Audible will also release its own audiobook adaptation featuring a new cast of hundreds of voice actors.
Would you like to see Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint reprise their Harry Potter roles?
