Harry Potter star Nick Frost reveals his goals for revival series
'Hot Fuzz' actor Nick Frost has reflected on the idea of emulating the late Robbie Coltrane when he takes on the role of Hagrid in 'Harry Potter'.
Nick Frost is "never going to try" to be Robbie Coltrane in 'Harry Potter'.
The 53-year-old actor has been cast as Hogwarts groundskeeper and professor Rubeus Hagrid in HBO's upcoming revival, and he doesn't think it would be right to try and emulate his late predecessor, who played the character in eight films between 2001 and 2011.
He told Collider: “You get cast because you're going to bring something to that.
"While I'm really aware of what went before me in terms of Robbie's amazing performance, I'm never going to try and be Robbie."
However, the 'Hot Fuzz' star is keen to stress that he wants to make sure his performance in the highly anticipated TV series to still remain true to the character in author J.K. Rowling's book series.
He explained: "I'm going to try and do something, not ‘different,’ I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there's scope for minutia.
"I always read Hagrid as he's like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child.
"I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can't wait.
"He's funny! I want it to be funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike. That's what I'm planning on doing.”
Nick also revealed that the filming will take "10 or 11 months a season", with one series planned for each of the seven books.
However, he insisted: "I'm just so excited to get going. I've gone in to do head sculpts and have your hand stand and stuff, and they say, ‘Oh, have a look at this.’
"And you're like, ‘Wow. That's the coolest thing.’ I love films.
"I’ve loved cinema my whole life, so to be part of that universe now and that they're showing me, like, a dancing mushroom, it's like, ‘That is so cool!’”
Other stars cast in the series thus far include Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall) and John Lithow (Albus Dumbledore).
Meanwhile, HBO recently announced that young actors Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively.
Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod said: “The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen."
