Rupert Grint Gets Real About ‘Harry Potter’, Offers Honest Advice to HBO’s New “Sacrifice”

Published 02/14/2026, 8:33 AM EST

The transition from a normal childhood to global superstardom is a path few understand as intimately as the original trio. Rupert Grint is preparing to trade his quiet life for the spotlight once more with Nightborn, but not before passing a metaphorical torch that carries the weight of a decade-long commitment. The original Ron Weasley has some sobering yet supportive words for the child actors currently stepping into the halls of a reimagined Hogwarts.

The announcement of the new television cast of new Harry Potter immediately transported Rupert Grint back to the excitement of 1999.

The weight of the wand of Rupert Grint

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According to Variety, Rupert Grint remains candid about the stamina required to portray a character for such an extended period of time. There were moments during his youth when the desire to escape the franchise felt overwhelming due to the sheer scale of the commitment. He describes the process as a significant sacrifice of one's formative years, though he insists that he harbors no regrets about his time in the Wizarding World.

“It is a sacrifice, especially when you are young,” Grint says while reflecting on the intense dedication required for the role.

Rupert Grint views the journey as an incredible experience, yet he admits that the surreal nature of the reboot makes his own era feel like it happened only yesterday. While he offers his full support to the newcomers, he acknowledges that the presence of social media will create a vastly different environment than the one he navigated.

The actor believes the new cast will thrive if they rely on the support systems provided by those around them. His letter to Alistair Stout, the young actor stepping into the role of Ron, serves as a bridge between two generations of magic, as mentioned by Variety.

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As he reflects on the past, Rupert Grint is also busy carving out a dark and mysterious new future on the silver screen.

Rupert Grint’s dark return in Nightborn

Rupert Grint is set to captivate audiences in the upcoming supernatural thriller Nightborn, which is scheduled for a late 2026 theatrical release. The plot follows the father, Grint, who discovers that his family is being hunted by an ancient entity that feeds on repressed memories.

Grint portrays a mysterious drifter who claims to have the only solution to stopping the creature before the lunar eclipse. This role marks a significant departure from his previous work, leaning heavily into atmospheric horror and psychological tension. The production has garnered attention for its use of practical effects and a haunting, isolated setting that mirrors the protagonist’s internal struggle.

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The production features an ensemble cast including Seidi Haarla, Rupert Grint, and Pamela Tola, alongside Pirkko Saisio and Rebecca Lacey. Hanna Bergholm collaborated with Ilja Rautsi to develop the screenplay for this specific cinematic project. The film was brought to life under the professional guidance of producer Daniel Kuitunen.

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What do you think about Rupert Grint's advice? Let us know in the comments below. 

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Soma Mitra

929 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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