Harry Potter star Rupert Grint to play Ron Weasley again

Rupert Grint is reprising his role as Ron Weasley for the first time in 15 years.

The 38-year-old actor shot to fame as a child when he landed the role of Ron in the Harry Potter film series and he played the character in all eight films - now he's confirmed he will be picking up his wand again to play Ron in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

He said in a statement: "Ron Weasley has been a part of me since I was 11 years old and I can't wait to meet him again in this stage of life.

"There is something so full-circle and so special about stepping back into Ron's shoes now when we are both fathers; it is somehow both very familiar and completely new.

"And the joy of being back on Broadway, this time in a role that defined so much of my life is truly exciting.

"The first time I saw Cursed Child onstage, I was blown away and I can’t wait to set foot back on platform nine and three-quarters and pick up where I left off. I am overjoyed to join this exceptional cast and crew at the Lyric Theatre this winter."

In a joint statement, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child producers Sonia Friedman and Sir Colin Callender, said: "We, along with all the wizarding world fans around the globe, watched Rupert grow up through his portrayal of Ron while preserving the qualities at the very heart of the character – his humour, his bravery and, of course, that unmistakably cheeky grin – like an invisible thread woven throughout the years.

"His return creates a powerful bridge between the story audiences first fell in love with and the story of family, legacy and the passage of time that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child carries forward."

Rupert will appear in the show at the Lyric Theatre in New York City for a 17-week run between February 2 and May 30. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Harry Potter star Tom Felton, who reprised his movie role as Draco Malfoy to appear in the production at the Lyric.

Rupert made his Broadway back in 2014 when he starred in comedy show It's Only a Play opposite theatre veteran Nathan Lane.