Harry Potter’s Ron Weasley & His Yule Ball Partner Reunite 19 Years Later In New Photo

Summary

• Rupert Grint and Afshan Azad reunite 19 years after their Yule Ball scene in
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
• Azad shares a photo on Instagram, highlighting their transformation over the years.
• Grint failed to ask Azad to dance after 19 years, and she teased that parenthood changed them.

The Yule Ball is a momentous occasion in the world of Harry Potter, and Rupert Grint is now honoring his experience with it. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Grint played the comedic Ron Weasley, who partnered with Padma Patil (Afshan Azad) for the ball. Their date was unsuccessful, as Padma eventually left Ron when he refused to dance. Still, given that Goblet of Fire made $896.8 million at the box office, and the movies are popular enough to spawn a Harry Potter revival show, it left an impression.

19 years after Ron and Padma’s disastrous date, Grint and Azad have officially reunited. In a touching Instagram post, Azad shared a side-by-side look at just how different the two actors are now.

In the post, Grant and Azad smile at the camera, while the next picture reveals how they looked when they were busy starring in Goblet of Fire. Azad reflected that “parenthood has changed us,” while teasing that Grint again failed to ask her to dance after 19 years of waiting.

Will Harry Potter’s Cast Ever Fully Reunite?

While Reunions Are Possible, A Sequel Is Unlikely

Grint’s reunion with Azad is not the only major reunion since the movie franchise ended with Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011. The Harry Potter cast already reunited for the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special. It was released in 2022 on New Year’s Day and explored the way that the cast connected with their characters. Grint, in particular, emphasized that he never knew where Ron ended and he began, leaving him on unsure footing after the franchise concluded. He was 33 when the special aired and just 22 when Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was released.

The actors are now approximately the age that they would be in the Harry Potter epilogue, so there is an opportunity for another reunion. Should The Cursed Child be developed into a movie, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Grint could reunite to usher in the next generation of whimsical wizards. Grint has already spoken about his willingness to return, stating that he would love to, “if the timing was right.” Unfortunately, the leading man is unlikely to reappear. Radcliffe stated that “I made it out of Potter okay” and implied he would prefer not to reprise his role.

Without Radcliffe, it would be difficult to justify a revival. The existence of the upcoming TV show also makes it challenging, as another movie would distract from the excitement of a new cast embracing the characters. There will likely be more reunions as filming for the show approaches, given that many actors will likely have the opportunity to appear in cameo roles during the planned seven seasons. With more Harry Potter content to come, reunions like Grint’s and Azad’s are sure to continue.

Will The Original Harry Potter Cast Appear In The Show?

The Harry Potter Show May Not Have Many Cameos

The Harry Potter TV show has not yet cast the next actors who will play Harry, Hermione, Ron, and their friends. It only recently landed Francesca Gardiner (Succession) as a showrunner. The casting process will be challenging, as the new actors will need to live up to the iconic original stars, while also satisfying a tone that better fits a TV show. With so many challenges ahead of them, the new stars could use the support of the original cast and crew. While the previous stars may not be interested in The Cursed Child, cameo appearances are still a possibility.

The
Harry Potter
series is expected to premiere in 2026, indicating casting could happen later this year ahead of production getting underway in 2025.

Cameos could afford some legitimacy to the show. Author J.K. Rowling’s involvement will offer some serious support on that front, but it may not be enough. Rowling has become a controversial figure, given her vocal anti-transgender stance. For those uninterested in a show with Rowling involved, the on-screen support of the original cast members could be satisfactory, but it may not come. As with Cursed Child, Radcliffe expressed a general lack of interest, saying, “I’m very happy to just watch along with everyone else.” Given Radcliffe’s well-publicized disappointment in Rowling, his decision to avoid the show is no great surprise.

Radcliffe also explained that the producers may not be interested in having anyone appear for cameos. He emphasized that the producers want “a clean break,“ which would mean that there will likely be little to no cameos in the first season. It is still possible that they could come in future seasons, though a “break” would imply avoiding that entirely. It would help the younger actors to establish themselves and would also encourage the show to explore new themes, rather than shoehorning in stars. Grint might love to return to the franchise, but the Harry Potter world is shifting away.

Source: Afshan Azad/Instagram