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This was published 8 months ago

'Too old': Why Harry Potter star doesn't think Andrew Garfield should be cast in the TV reboot

Karishma Sarkari
Karishma Sarkari

EXCLUSIVE: It seems Andrew Garfield is the fan favourite to play Remus Lupin in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

While Garfield has played coy on the internet's wishes for him to play a young version of the werewolf-turned-Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts in the HBO series, there's one person who doesn't think he's the right man for the role.

David Thewlis, who played Lupin in five of the seven movies in the hit film franchise, tells nine.com.au he believes the former Spiderman star, at 42, is "too old" for the role.

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David Thewlis in Harry Potter movies

David Thewlis reveals who he wants to play his Harry Potter character Remus Lupin in the TV reboot. Warner Bros

"I know there's a big thing online where ... everyone wants Andrew Garfield to play him, but I think that's a kind of fan fiction somewhere," Thewlis says.

"Whenever my name is mentioned on the internet, it's that character, and there's always lots of pictures of Andrew Garfield.

"Not quite sure why, but I would presume it's cause people want or wanted him, would have preferred Andrew Garfield to play Lupin.

"I'm not sure what it is, but he seems to be connected to me in that part, in some way on the internet, and I know he's not doing it 'cause he's too old as well."

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Andrew Garfield at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 2, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.

Many fans of the book series think Andrew Garfield would be the perfect Lupin. Getty

Thewlis, now 62, first played the adult version of the character 22 years ago, at the age of 40.

It hasn't stopped Garfield from addressing the casting speculation, teasing it in a recent GQ video that answered the internet's questions.

He said he's only just started watching the films, tellingly adding he'd just finished Prisoner of Azkaban, which is the first time we see Lupin.

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He also addressed the rumours coyly in a 2024 BBC interview at the London Film Festival.

David Thewlis and Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thewlis (right), who is starring in Australian-made series The Artful Dodger, has "never thought about" who should play Lupin Supplied/Disney+

"This is a question I don't know how to answer. I will consider any role offered, how's that?" he said.

Thewlis, who is currently starring in the Australian-made Disney+ series The Artful Dodger, tells nine.com.au he's "never thought about" who should play Lupin in the hotly-anticipated reboot.

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But his The Artful Dodger co-star Thomas Brodie-Sangster has an inspired idea for who could take over the role.

"I'd do it," the Love Actually and Game of Thrones star said.

(L-R) David Thewlis and Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thewlis' The Artful Dodger co-star Thomas Brodie-Sangster has an inspired idea for who could take over the role. Nine

With the wizarding TV series currently in pre-production, Thewlis put out a message to producers when he realised his The Artful Dodger co-star was serious.

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"Yeah, you take over! Thomas Brodie-Sangster should play Lupin in the new [reboot]," he said, before clarifying, "You're actually asking that?"

Brodie-Sangster confirmed, prompting excitement at the idea from Thewlis.

"He's reaching out for the role, he's not got much work on these days," he said down the barrel of a camera.

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"There you go, the new Lupin."

The duo passing the torch from one to the other would have the added bonus of cross-promoting their current small screen endeavours, they laughed.

The Artful Dodger returns for Season 2 on Disney+ from February 10.

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