The prank was successful.
James and Oliver Phelps, the actors who portrayed the mischievous twins Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films, have shared their thoughts on the forthcoming HBO series.
“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about it,” James, 39, mentioned in a conversation.
They were promoting their Food Network show, “Harry Potter: The Wizard of Baking,” set to air again on November 2 at 8 p.m. and available on HBO Max.
“All we know is what everybody else knows,” James remarked. “That stuff is really outside of our sphere.”
When asked if they intended to watch the new series, Oliver, 39, replied, “Maybe we’ll only know when it gets closer.”
He explained how their experience shooting the original films led to a unique bond: “When we were filming, we had no idea how monumental it would become after the first movie. It could have been an isolated event, or it could have turned out this massive. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
He characterized his connection with former co-stars as reminiscent of “old college or high school friends.” They might drift in and out of each other’s lives but always manage to reconnect effortlessly.
The Phelps twins portrayed Fred and George in the film series spanning from 2001 to 2011.
Oliver tied the knot with Katie Humpage in 2015, and they have two kids together, while James wed Annika Ostr in 2016.
Oliver mentioned that he might watch the new series, saying, “I think my daughter would really enjoy it.” He added a wish for the new actors, expressing, “I hope the young people stepping into Fred and George find joy in it, just as we did.”
No official premiere date for the new “Harry Potter” series has been confirmed yet, but it is anticipated to launch in 2026. Each season will cover one of J.K. Rowling’s seven books.
The cast includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Staunton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, while the original film series featured Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.
Twins Tristan and Gabriel Haaland are set to play Fred and George in the upcoming show. In addition, John Lithgow is cast as Professor Albus Dumbledore, and Nick Frost will portray Hagrid.
The original cast and crew have expressed mixed feelings about the new adaptation. Chris Columbus, who directed the first two movies, recently commented on a podcast about his surprise at the similarities in design for Hagrid, saying, “Part of me thought things would change, but it seems like much remains the same.”
Daniel Radcliffe, now 36, was asked about participating in this series, to which he responded negatively. However, he also expressed a willingness to see how it unfolds, stating in May 2024, “I’m just excited to watch it as a fan.”
