Willena Emigholz: 'Harry Potter' Star Rupert Grint: What's Next?

'I'm not sure I'm going to miss it,' actor tells MTV News of 'Potter.'
By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Rupert Grint
Photo: MTV News

Rupert Grint has always been the comic relief when it comes to the Big Three actors in "Harry Potter," but with the final film opening in theaters Friday (July 15), he is ready to spread his wings and try out some new projects.

"Anything really different, really," Grint replied when MTV News asked him what his plans are next. "Playing the same character for 10 years really does give you this thirst for new things. I'm not sure I'm going to miss it. I am looking forward to this kind of newfound freedom. Just see where it takes me."

He certainly seems to be trying to get away from "Potter" as much as possible. Grint's next project is his anti-war film "Comrade," which began filming March 28 in Norway. Directed by Petter Næss and costarring David Kross, Florian Lukas and Stig Henrik Hoff, the movie tells the story of English and German pilots who are forced to work together to survive the brutal Norwegian winter; it is a very far cry from anything Grint has done in "Potter."

After that, his next project is looking more and more likely to be "Eddie the Eagle," a biopic about British skier Eddie Edwards, the first competitor to represent the U.K. in Olympic ski jumping. Though it still doesn't have a writer or director attached, Grint is optimistic that production will get under way soon.

"It's a story that I really like and it's still in the working yet. I still have faith that it will happen," he told MTV News. "It's been in kind of development for a while, but yeah, hopefully it will come up."

Of all the "Potter" stars, Grint has been the one to have the most big-screen experience. In 2002 he starred in the children's comedy "Thunderpants," then followed it up with 2006's dramedy "Driving Lessons." Somehow he managed to find time over the past few years during his busy "Potter" shooting schedule to squeeze out two 2010 releases as well: "Cherrybomb" and "Wild Target."

And the fans respect him for it. When MTV's Next Movie site ran a recent poll asking readers who they thought would be the most successful "Potter" star, Grint won by a whopping 43 percent. If that doesn't work out, though, he always has a side career as an ice cream man.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."

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