They came, they saw, and they conquered. Harry Potter and his friends changed the shape of childhood forever, bringing joy and enchantment to fans around the world. But now, the films’ legendary stars are getting ready to say goodbye to their characters, and it’s time to find out what they’ve been up to since the last time we saw them on screen.
Here, we speak to Eddie Edwards, who plays the notorious villain Bellatrix Lestrange, and Michael Colgrass, who plays Neville Longbottom, about what’s next for Harry, Ron and Co.
Harry Potter Is Now A Full-time Dad
Harry Potter made his cinematic debut at the age of 11, but even before the series began, Richard Harris—who plays Sirius Black in the movies—told Screen Rant that Harry was always destined to be a father. In fact, when the producers of the film began considering ideas for the series, one of the first concepts that came to mind was Harry Potter and the Half-Brother Syndrome.
In the novel, Dumbledore suggests to Harry that, since he has a son himself, he can imagine what it must be like to be a parent. When Harris was asked about this idea during a promotion for the film series, he said, “I think this is going to be the next phase of Harry’s life. He’s had a taste of the excitement of being a parent and having a child grow up around you. He’s not done with parenthood yet.”
Michael Colgrass Is Now A Full-time Actor
After the incredible success of Harry Potter, Edwards’ profile as an actor rose dramatically. He was even offered the role of James Bond, but he turned it down. Instead, he chose to work on the popular TNT series, The Alienist, which also starred Tom Hardy. But it was Harry Potter that made him a household name, and even today, people often recognize him as the boy who played Harry in the movies.
Since then, Edwards’ career has been very busy. He’s appeared in a number of films, including the Oscar-winning movie, Lion, and has even had the opportunity to reprise his role as Harry in video games such as Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. But even now, Edwards often gets asked to speak to children about acting careers. He told us that he thinks it’s important for young actors to know how much effort goes into making a film, and he encourages them to believe that they too can become famous ‘unicorns’ (performers who are successful in both film and television). He likes to tell them that it’s all about having a plan and being prepared—and that they should never give up on their dreams.
Ron Weasley Is Still Engaged To His Wife, Ginny
Ron Weasley made his cinematic debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and since then, has gone on to appear in several other major films, including the Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. But long before he became famous, fans knew and loved Ron as the younger brother of Harry Potter. He’s married to actress, Emma Watson, with whom he has three children.
While promoting the series, Emma Watson (who plays the role of Hermione Granger) told Entertainment Tonight that life behind the scenes is just as interesting as life in front of the camera. She said, “Ron and I work really hard at making our marriage work. We both have very active social media accounts, and we try to promote each other’s work as much as possible. We’ve been together for more than a decade, and we’ve been through a lot together. I think that being able to focus on family is one of the reasons why we’re both still together.”
Although they’ve had a strained relationship at times, Watson, 29, and Edwards, 42, have always maintained a close friendship. They told us that the key to their continued success as a relationship is appreciating what the other brings to the table. Edwards said, “I think Emma is a lovely person, and I’m proud to call her my wife. Our friendship dates back to when we were kids, and it’s been there through thick and thin. It’s been quite a ride, to be honest. I wouldn’t change a thing. I think it’s made us appreciate our own friendship more. And I think that’s a good thing.”
Daniel Radcliffe Is Now A Full-time Dad
Daniel Radcliffe made his cinematic debut in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and went on to play the role of the teen wizard in the first four films of the series. But even before he became famous, the then-15-year old Radcliffe was already an accomplished young actor, starring in the BBC miniseries,, How to Get On, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He also performed in several West End plays, and at one point, he was even cast as a young King George in a stage production of Shakespeare’s, King George.
But it was Harry Potter that made him an international star. In the first movie, he told MTV that he wanted to prove to his fans that he was more than just a ‘pretty boy,’ and he said the role gave him the chance to show the world his acting range. Since then, Daniel Radcliffe has gone on to star in big-budget films like Equals and The Woman In Black, and even had the chance to reprise his role as Harry in video games like Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery and Tales of the Raven, as well as the upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.
Laurence “Larry” Fishwick Is Now A Full-time Actor
Larry Fishwick made his cinematic debut in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and starred as the goblin, Crabbe, in the Harry Potter series. But it was in 2014 that he really broke out, starring in the independent crime thriller, The Strange Case of the Deadly Sins, as well as the science fiction series, The Rain. In 2020, he will appear in the movie, Mortal Engines, which is scheduled for release in December of that year.
Throughout his acting career, Fishwick has been known for playing villains and psychopaths. He told us that he finds that people in general seem to respond well to his characters—and that it’s often the parts played by other actors that he feels he outperforms.
When asked about his success in portraying these types of characters, Fishwick said, “There’s definitely elements of all of those roles in me somewhere—probably most in me in the case of The Strange Case of the Deadly Sins. With the others, it’s about finding the human side of it all. It’s easy to play the bad guy; it’s living in that skin that makes it challenging.”
Albus Dumbledore Is Still Alive And Well
Albus Dumbledore made his cinematic debut in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and has since then, appeared in several other major movies, including the Fantastic Beasts films, as well as the 2019 installment of the Twilight franchise, Eclipse.
Dumbledore’s been the subject of many rumors and conspiracy theories over the years, but the most popular stories revolve around his alleged resurrection. In November of 2019, Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, revealed that Dumbledore is indeed still alive and well, and resides in “a comfortable retirement” in Scotland. And in April of 2020, the headmaster made a rare public appearance, celebrating the opening of the International Albus Dumbledore Foundation, which promotes tolerance and diversity, and provides educational opportunities for children and students around the world.
Severus Snape Is Still A Mad Genius
Severus Snape made his cinematic debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, but aside from that movie, he appeared in several other major films, including the Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. But it was in Harry Potter that he really shined, portraying the sadistic and twisted school master. Since then, many fans have wondered if Snape was always destined to be a villain. But in 2019, Rowling revealed that while Snape clearly had a dark side, he was also a very talented and complex character, whose intentions were often unclear.
Rowling wrote that while she was writing the last book in the series, she came to realize that Snape was a much more interesting character than she first thought. She said that she explored his backstory, and saw that his parents were forced to work for the Order of the Phoenix, a secret branch of the British government, because their family was deemed “undesirable.”