Ben Barnes has once again made it clear that he has no interest in ignoring the years of fan support for him to join the Wizarding World. According to the Shadow and Bone star, the connection fans have made between him and Sirius Black is something he truly values, and bringing the character to life without that history would not feel right.
Ben Barnes says he would pick Sirius Black as the one character he’d want to be associated with
Speaking about the long-standing rumors during a recent convention appearance, Barnes said the idea of playing the fan-favorite Marauder is a “loving” gesture from the fandom.
“Yes, this question is about a very, sort of loving fan cast of me as a young Sirius Black,” Barnes explained.
He added that even though he is approaching the age the character was in the original films, the investment from fans makes the role special.
“And honestly, if I had to pick one that people would associate me with, that would be the character I picked anyway.”
For Barnes, the series is inseparable from the passion of the readers who have imagined him in the role for nearly two decades.
He has repeatedly said he has no interest in dismissing the “joyful” way fans have connected him to the mythology. In his view, any actor taking on such an iconic role would have to respect that level of investment from the community.
Barnes has also become more outspoken about his own love for the books. He reportedly views himself as a fan first, often acknowledging that the stories feel “real” to him.
Recently, Barnes joked that he even shares a birthday with another popular fan cast for the series, Andrew Garfield.
Despite the humor, he said he truly believes that the commitment of the fandom is a testament to how much these stories mean to people.
“It’s a very lovely thing, I think, that people are kind of invested in you for something that you didn’t have nothing to do with,” Barnes said. “It makes me feel really good.”
Instead, Barnes believes that the legacy of Sirius Black, a character he didn’t even play, remains a beautiful part of his career thanks to the internet.
Although he has not officially spoken to HBO about the upcoming television reboot, Barnes has continued to embrace the association in other ways.
He sees the constant requests to sign Harry Potter merchandise as a companion to his work in other fantasy series rather than a distraction.
Barnes is also reportedly keeping an eye on the official casting updates for the 2026 production, which is expected to look back at the making and legacy of the original books while introducing a new generation to the halls of Hogwarts.
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