rupert grint swaps wizardry for horror in chilling new role

2026-02-14 roddels

Londen, zaterdag, 14 februari 2026.
Rupert Grint is stepping far from Hogwarts in his latest role. The actor stars in the Finnish horror film ‘Nightborn’, premiering at the 2026 Berlin Film Festival. He plays a father haunted by fear and isolation after welcoming a newborn with terrifying differences. Drawing from personal experience, Grint channeled the anxieties of impending fatherhood during filming, mirroring his own life as his second daughter arrived in 2025. The film dives into Finnish folklore, blending primal fears of parenthood with supernatural dread. Unlike his warm portrayal of Ron Weasley, this role explores darkness and unease. Grint calls it a stark contrast to the magic millions know him for. Practical puppetry brings the eerie infant to life, adding a tactile creepiness. ‘Nightborn’ marks his return to cinema after a decade, signaling a bold new phase in his career. Fans should expect nothing less than a haunting transformation.

a departure from hogwarts

Rupert Grint steps away from his iconic role as Ron Weasley in the new Finnish horror film ‘Nightborn’, premiering at the 2026 Berlin Film Festival [1]. The film centers on a couple, played by Grint and Seidi Haarla, who relocate to an isolated forest home in Finland for the birth of their child [2]. Their newborn exhibits unsettling abnormalities, triggering psychological unraveling and supernatural threats rooted in Finnish folklore [2]. Grint describes the role as a deliberate divergence from the warmth associated with Harry Potter, embracing darker thematic territory [3].

drawing from personal experience

Filming ‘Nightborn’ coincided with a pivotal moment in Grint’s personal life, as his second daughter was born in 2025 [1]. He has stated that reading the script occurred shortly after learning of his partner Georgia Groome’s pregnancy, calling it “very weird timing” and “life imitating art” [3]. The film’s exploration of parental anxiety, fear for a child’s safety, and postpartum isolation resonated deeply with his own experiences [2]. This personal connection heightened his emotional investment in portraying Jon’s escalating dread [2].

crafting terror through practical effects

‘Nightborn’ utilizes practical puppetry to bring its central, unnatural infant to life, a technique director Hanna Bergholm previously employed in her film ‘Hatching’ [2]. Grint expressed enthusiasm for working with physical props, noting his appreciation for puppetry from his time on the Harry Potter series [2]. He described collaborating with animatronic creatures as “quite fun” and lamented their rarity in modern filmmaking [2]. The decision to avoid heavy CGI enhances the film’s visceral and tangible sense of horror, grounding the supernatural elements in a more realistic framework [2].

a selective approach to fame

Grint attributes his ability to take on niche projects like ‘Nightborn’ to the financial security granted by the Harry Potter franchise [3]. He openly identifies as a “reluctant celebrity,” valuing privacy and family time over relentless stardom [1]. While acknowledging the immense opportunity Potter provided, allowing him to “pick and choose” roles, he admits to disliking viewing his own performances [1][2]. His career strategy now focuses on balancing artistic interest with personal fulfillment, aiming for roughly one project annually [3].

passing the torch to a new generation

As a new Harry Potter television series enters production under HBO, Grint has offered support to its young cast [1]. He specifically sent advice to Alistair Stout, the actor cast to play Ron Weasley, reflecting on his own formative experience [3]. Grint recalled the journey as “such an exciting time” and wished the new actors “all the best,” describing it as “such a fun journey” [1]. He acknowledged the difference in era, noting his lack of exposure to pervasive social media, implying a distinct contemporary challenge for the newcomers [3].

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