Rupert Grint has become the target of online vitriol from anti-J.K. Rowling activists after it was announced on Wednesday that he will reprise his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter stage sequel on Broadway next year.
The 38-year-old actor, who played the wizard in all eight Harry Potter films, is set to appear in the Cursed Child at the Lyric Theatre for a 17-week run beginning on February 2. He is the second original film star to join the stage production, following Tom Felton.
Felton returned as Draco Malfoy late last year, and his run has been extended until January 2027, just weeks before Grint joins the show.
Speaking about his involvement, Grint 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."
Transgender comments
While Grint said he was positive about the part, the news was poorly received by some critics who branded him a "hypocrite" for taking the job.
Many users reminded the actor that he had previously been clear that he disagrees with J.K. Rowling on transgender issues. In June 2020, following a series of comments by the author about sex and transgender people, Grint publicly responded: "I firmly stand with the trans community... Trans women are women. Trans men are men."
He added at the time that everyone should be able to live "with love and without judgment." However, the actor has also expressed personal affection for Rowling.
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."
Following the casting announcement, critics shared their thoughts on X. One user wrote: "I'm irritated bro, wtf do you mean Rupert Grint is joining Cursed Child?"
Another posted: "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?"
Others added: "Rupert Grint joining Tom Felton in the ranks of broke and spineless. Okay. These people are genuinely disgusting I have no words," and "Oh FFS Rupert Grint!? Really? (He's apparently joining the HP play on Broadway)."
Further criticism included: "RUPERT GRINT NOOO YOU HAVE A JOB STOP THIS JOBLESS BEHAVIOR," and "Another day, another disappointing childhood icon."
Fan support
However, some anticipated the backlash and shared their support for Grint.
"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?" one user wrote.
Another tweeted: "Crazy people with stones on their heads instead of brains that are against JK Rowling foaming at their mouths 3..2..1."
A third added: "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."
Another user posted: "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?"
The Daily Mail has contacted Grint's spokesperson for comment.
Nicholas Hoult steps down
Grint's casting announcement comes shortly after Nicholas Hoult dropped out of the upcoming Harry Potter HBO television remake following a similar online pile on.
Hoult backed out of his role as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second series of the remake amid mounting backlash from the trans lobby over his involvement. He pulled out of the project blaming "scheduling issues" less than a fortnight after his casting was announced in the much-anticipated show.
Rowling, who serves as an executive producer on the HBO show, 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.
Following the announcement that Hoult 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."
A third user added: "Incredibly disappointed. Used to be one of my favourite actors but oh well!"
Hoult is no stranger to playing a villain, having previously portrayed Lex Luthor in the 2025 Superman film. He gained mainstream Hollywood recognition after famously enjoying TV success in the UK young adult series Skins, as well as the Hulu comedy series The Great, for which he earned both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Kit Harington replacement
Hoult 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 Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, who previously voiced the part of Lockhart for Audible's star-studded Harry Potter audiobooks.
Reflecting on his part in the audiobook, Harington told Variety: "It was a really simple yes, because I love the character." He added: "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 $883 million 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.
The self-obsessed character notably takes credit for other wizards' "heroic deeds" after wiping their memories.
HBO series details
Filming for the second season of the Harry Potter reboot is expected to start this autumn, while the first season will come out on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day.
The new show will see 12-year-old Dominic McLaughlin play Harry Potter, a role famously portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, now 37.
Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley, previously played by 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 called the experience a "bit surreal" and added: "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".
