2S. “HE ACTUALLY WROTE A LETTER!” — Rupert Grint Sent An EMOTIONAL Message To Alastair Stout Before HBO’s Harry Potter Filming Started… And His Last Sentence Made Fans Explode!

EXCLUSIVE: In a move that’s got Potterheads everywhere reaching for the tissues, original Ron Weasley himself, Rupert Grint, has spilled the beans on a super-sweet gesture to the fresh-faced kid stepping into his iconic redheaded shoes.

The 37-year-old British hunk – who skyrocketed to fame as the loyal, freckle-faced sidekick in the billion-dollar Harry Potter film saga – revealed he penned a personal letter to 11-year-old Alastair Stout before cameras even rolled on HBO’s hotly anticipated TV reboot.

Talk about passing the wand! Grint dished to the BBC during a festive Christmas lights switch-on chat that he wanted to give the young star a proper pep talk.

“I wrote him a letter before they started… passing the baton as it were,” the doting dad-of-two gushed, his voice cracking with nostalgia.

“It was really just wishing him all the best with it. I had so much fun stepping into this world, and I hope he has the same experience… It’s quite strange that the cycle repeats itself. I’m really intrigued to see what it will be like. I think it’s great that it’s something completely new. It will be something of its own, and I think it will be fun.”

Oh, Rupert, you absolute legend! Fans are melting over this wholesome handover, with social media exploding in a frenzy of heart emojis and “This is why we love the Wizarding World!” posts.

It’s the latest buzz from the rebooted Hogwarts saga, which kicked off filming back in July 2025 at the legendary Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden – the very same spot where Grint and his co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson conjured up box-office magic from 2001 to 2011.

The eight-episode first season, adapting J.K. Rowling’s spellbinding “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” is eyeing an early 2027 premiere on HBO and Max.

But let’s rewind to that fateful casting call two decades ago. Grint was just 11 – same age as little Alastair – when he landed the gig as Ron, the ginger Gryffindor with a heart of gold and a knack for comic relief amid all the dark wizard drama.

“I still remember every second of it,” Grint confessed, admitting the new trio’s reveal in May yanked him right back to his own wide-eyed audition days.

Dominic McLaughlin, the mop-topped 11-year-old tapped as Harry, got a similar shout-out from Radcliffe last week – another ink-on-parchment missive wishing the boy wizard bon voyage into the storm of Voldemort’s villainy.

And don’t get us started on Arabella Stanton, the brainy 10-year-old channeling Hermione Granger’s bushy-haired brilliance. These mini-mages are already slaying in first-look snaps, decked out in fresh Hogwarts robes that scream “new era” while nodding to the classics.

Grint couldn’t help but spot a “bit of family resemblance” in Stout’s cherubic cheeks and cheeky grin – cue the collective “Aww!” from the fandom.

“He’s got that spark,” the actor beamed, adding he’s “really happy” for the tyke diving headfirst into a franchise that’s grossed over $7.7 billion worldwide and spawned theme parks, spin-offs, and endless merch mania.

But hold onto your broomsticks – this reboot isn’t just kid stuff. HBO’s stacked the adult deck with A-listers that’ll have you double-taking.

John Lithgow, the Emmy-hoarding vet from “3rd Rock from the Sun,” is twinkling as the wise, lemon-drop-loving Albus Dumbledore – a far cry from the late, great Richard Harris and Michael Gambon’s grizzled takes.

Paapa Essiedu, the “I May Destroy You” breakout, is brewing potions (and plot twists) as the brooding Severus Snape, bringing a fresh, fierce edge to Alan Rickman’s silky sneer.

Nick Frost – yes, the “Shaun of the Dead” funnyman – is rumbling as the bearded giant Rubeus Hagrid, channeling Robbie Coltrane’s lovable lump with his own cheeky charm.

Janet McTeer, the Tony winner, is striding the halls as the no-nonsense Minerva McGonagall, tartan robes and all.

And get this: BAFTA darling Katherine Parkinson snagged Molly Weasley, the fierce Weasley matriarch, while Johnny Flynn (Zoe Kazan’s hubby and “The Crown” heartthrob) slithers in as the sneering Lucius Malfoy.

Lox Pratt, a rising kid star, is channeling Draco’s platinum-punk vibe, and Paul Whitehouse – the comedy king from “The Fast Show” – is skulking as the cat-obsessed Argus Filch.

Recent set leaks from November 10 at Hertfordshire’s Ashridge Estate – the Goblet of Fire’s Quidditch hotspot – show the gang in action, with Harry’s scarlet robes swapped for a bolder burgundy twist.

Costume whiz Holly Waddington is serving visual feasts, and showrunner Francesca Gardiner promises a “faithful yet fresh” dive into Rowling’s pages, directed by “Succession” maestro Mark Mylod.

As for Grint? The “Servant” star – who’s traded spells for scares in M. Night Shyamalan’s creepy Apple TV chiller – insists he’ll “never step out of Ron’s shadow,” and he’s totally cool with it.

“It’s great. It gives me a lot of pride,” he shrugged, eyes misty. The North London lad, who’s kept it low-key with actress Georgia Groome and their two tots (including five-year-old Wednesday, who’s dipping toes into Potter clips but finds the flicks “a little too scary”), even joked he’d greenlight his own kids for future cameos.

“Never say never,” he teased on a franchise return – fueling fevered fan theories about him popping up as a grown-up Weasley or maybe even sly Lucius’s rival.

But amid the fairy dust, there’s real talk. Grint, Radcliffe, and Watson have been vocal allies in the trans rights row with Rowling, whose tweets have sparked firestorms.

The author – exec producer here – doubled down on her views last month, but Grint’s stayed mum, focusing on the fun.

This letter? It’s his way of saying the magic’s bigger than the mess – a bridge from old guard to new, ensuring Ron’s legacy lives on with laughs, loyalty, and a little less angst.

Potter nation, are you sobbing yet? With filming humming through mid-2026 and season two scripts already bubbling, HBO’s brewing a cauldron of controversy-free wonder.

Will Alastair nail those chessboard heroics? Can Dominic dodge that scar-fated fate? One thing’s certain: Grint’s golden words have us all enchanted.

As the Weasley clan motto goes – or should – “Mischief Managed… and Passed On.”

Stay tuned, witches and wizards – the Yule Ball’s just getting started!