Summary
The Yule Ball is a momentous occasion in the world ofHarry Potter, and Rupert Grint is now honoring his experience with it. InHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Grint played the comedic Ron Weasley, who partnered with Padma Patil (Afshan Azad) for the ball. Their date was unsuccessful, as Padma eventually left Ron when he refused to dance. Still, given thatGoblet of Firemade $896.8 million at the box office, and the movies are popular enough to spawn aHarry Potterrevival show, it left an impression.
19 years after Ron and Padma’s disastrous date,Grint and Azad have officially reunited. In a touching Instagram post,Azadshared a side-by-side look at just how different the two actors are now.
In the post, Grant and Azad smile at the camera, while the next picture reveals how they looked when they were busy starring inGoblet of Fire. Azad reflected that “parenthood has changed us,” while teasing thatGrint again failed to ask her to danceafter 19 years of waiting.
Will Harry Potter’s Cast Ever Fully Reunite?
While Reunions Are Possible, A Sequel Is Unlikely
Grint’s reunion with Azad is not the only major reunion since the movie franchise ended withDeathly Hallows – Part 2in 2011. TheHarry Pottercastalready reunited for theHarry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartsspecial. It was released in 2022 on New Year’s Day and explored the way that the cast connected with their characters. Grint, in particular, emphasized that he never knew where Ron ended and he began, leaving him on unsure footing after the franchise concluded. He was 33 when the special aired and just 22 whenDeathly Hallows – Part 2was released.
What’s Next For The Harry Potter Franchise?
The Wizarding World seems to be over, but the Harry Potter franchise continues to expand with a show – what’s next? Here’s what could happen.
The actors are now approximately the age that they would be in theHarry Potterepilogue, so there is an opportunity for another reunion.ShouldThe Cursed Childbe developedinto a movie, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Grint could reunite to usher in the next generation of whimsical wizards.Grint has already spoken about his willingness to return, stating that he would love to, “if the timing was right.” Unfortunately, the leading man is unlikely to reappear. Radcliffe stated that “I made it out of Potter okay” and implied he would prefer not to reprise his role.
Without Radcliffe,it would be difficult to justify a revival. The existence of the upcoming TV show also makes it challenging, as another movie would distract from the excitement of a new cast embracing the characters. There will likely be more reunions as filming for the show approaches, given that many actors will likely have the opportunity to appear in cameo roles during the planned seven seasons. With moreHarry Pottercontent to come, reunions like Grint’s and Azad’s are sure to continue.
Will The Original Harry Potter Cast Appear In The Show?
The Harry Potter Show May Not Have Many Cameos
TheHarry PotterTV show has not yet cast the next actors who will play Harry, Hermione, Ron, and their friends. It only recently landed Francesca Gardiner (Succession) as a showrunner. The casting process will be challenging, as the new actors will need to live up to the iconic original stars, while also satisfying a tone that better fits a TV show. With so many challenges ahead of them,the new stars could use the support of the original cast and crew. While the previous stars may not be interested inThe Cursed Child, cameo appearances are still a possibility.
TheHarry Potterseries is expected to premiere in 2026, indicating casting could happen later this year ahead of production getting underway in 2025.
Cameos could afford some legitimacy to the show. Author J.K. Rowling’s involvement will offer some serious support on that front, but it may not be enough.Rowling has become a controversial figure, given her vocal anti-transgender stance. For those uninterested in a show with Rowling involved, the on-screen support of the original cast members could be satisfactory, but it may not come. As withCursed Child, Radcliffe expressed a general lack of interest, saying, “I’m very happy to just watch along with everyone else.” Given Radcliffe’s well-publicized disappointment in Rowling, his decision to avoid the show is no great surprise.
The Potterverse: All The Wizarding World Films In Chronological Order
The Fantastic Beasts franchise came after the Harry Potter movies wrapped, making the chronological order a bit confusing for Wizarding World fans.
Radcliffe also explained that the producers may not be interested in having anyone appear for cameos. He emphasized thatthe producers want “a clean break,“which would mean that there will likely be little to no cameos in the first season. It is still possible that they could come in future seasons, though a “break” would imply avoiding that entirely. It would help the younger actors to establish themselves and would also encourage the show to explore new themes, rather than shoehorning in stars. Grint might love to return to the franchise, but theHarry Potterworld is shifting away.
Source:Afshan Azad/Instagram
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
