Kevin McKidd has addressed growing rumors linking him to HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series after online speculation claimed he was being eyed to play Arthur Weasley. The rumors gained traction shortly after McKidd exited Grey’s Anatomy in May 2026, ending his 18-year run as Dr. Owen Hunt. HBO has not officially announced casting for Arthur Weasley, but McKidd admitted he would gladly join the franchise if the opportunity became real.
Kevin McKidd says he would “never say never” about playing Arthur Weasley
It all started when some fans noticed that actress Gracie Cochrane, who will soon be taking on the role of Ginny Weasley in HBO’s adaptation of the iconic book series, followed the Scottish actor on Instagram. This led to speculations that McKidd would soon become part of the cast, likely playing Arthur Weasley, since he is known as a huge fan of Harry Potter. Katherine Parkinson was recently cast to play the role of Molly Weasley, although Arthur Weasley is unlikely to show up anytime soon since the first season takes place during the events of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in May 2026, Kevin McKidd directly answered the question regarding the rumors by saying, “I saw something about this. And listen, I would never say never. I’m a massive Harry Potter fan.” He then continued by adding, “The idea of getting another crack at that, because I was asked to be in it once, already gets me very excited. So listen, if those rumors can turn into something real, I would be very happy about that.”
It turns out that Kevin McKidd’s ties with the Harry Potter franchise date back to the days of the films. In a May 2026 interview, McKidd stated that “David Yates once talked to me about playing either one of the characters in Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 and 2. I think there was a werewolf in there that was offered to me.” It confirms that McKidd was initially supposed to be cast as Fenrir Greyback.
McKidd ultimately refused the role due to scheduling conflicts, as the actor was contracted to star in NBC’s Journeyman. The show hadn’t confirmed its return for the fourth season yet, which left McKidd free to do other projects. Eventually, the role of Fenrir Greyback went to the late Dave Legeno.
After exiting Grey’s Anatomy, Kevin McKidd’s first project will be the new crime drama The Only Suspect for Red Planet Pictures, scheduled to film throughout June 2026. The actor is also set to direct an episode of the upcoming season of Grey’s Anatomy while expressing interest in becoming a part of the Harry Potter franchise.
