Rupert Grint has warned Harry Potter fans that his latest film, the horror movie Nightborn, is a far cry from the warmth of his iconic character Ron Weasley. The 37-year-old actor, best known for playing the loveable sidekick in the Harry Potter franchise, returns to the big screen for the first time since 2013 in director Hanna Bergholm's new horror.
Nightborn, which premiered at this year's Berlin Film Festival, tells the story of a couple who suspect something is terribly wrong with their newborn son. Grint stars alongside Finnish actress Seidi Haarla as Jon, a British husband who moves with his wife Saga to an isolated house deep in the Finnish forest. The film was actually shot in Lithuania.
The synopsis reads: 'With dreams of starting a perfect family, Saga and her British husband Jon move to the isolated house where she spent much of her childhood, deep in the Finnish forest. But as soon as their baby is born, despite the reassurance of all around her, Saga knows there’s something terribly wrong with her son. As their marriage starts to crack, Jon struggles to support his wife, but only Saga suspects the terrible truth about her newborn.'
Grint revealed he received the script for Nightborn shortly after learning he and his partner, actress Georgia Groome, were expecting their second child. 'So it was very weird timing,' he told Variety. 'But it’s kind of life imitating art.' He said his own experience of parenthood helped him prepare for the role of Jon, describing the character as an 'optimist' who tries to keep things light despite the strange events. 'Whatever’s going on I try to make it light. Not panicking and staying calm is definitely something I do,' Grint added.
However, the actor warned Harry Potter fans not to expect the same warmth from his new character. 'It does go against the warmth of Ron,' he said. Reflecting on his time as Ron Weasley, Grint said he finds it 'insane' that the final Harry Potter film was released in 2011. 'It doesn’t even feel that long ago. It's nearly 16 years...it’s insane,' he remarked. Despite the enduring popularity of the franchise, Grint is content with a slower pace of life. 'I love working, but I also just love being at home, hanging out and being a dad. I’m not ridiculously ambitious,' he concluded.
