14 DAY TRIAL // There is no magic cure against the swine flu, as 20-year-old British star Rupert Grint, who plays one of the main characters in the highly successful “Harry Potter” film franchise, has recently recovered from a bout of it, as his rep confirms for People magazine. Grint has now fully recovered and will be able to join his co-stars on Tuesday, at the London premiere of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the publicist also says.
According to a statement just released by Grint’s publicist, it seems the young actor contracted the virus while shooting for the latest “Harry Potter” film, “Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows,” in which he reprises his role as Potter’s close friend, Ron Weasley. Luckily for him, his condition was diagnosed in time and he could fully recover, without even disrupting the shooting schedule in any way.
“It has just been confirmed that Rupert Grint has taken a few days out of filming due to a mild bout of swine flu. He has now recovered and is looking forward to joining his fellow cast members at the junket and premieres this week and will then return to filming directly afterwards.” the publicist of the actor tells People magazine. Because producers were announced in due time that Grint had been taken ill, shooting for the film was done around his character so that there would be no delay in the initial schedule, the same publicist explains.
In other “Harry Potter” stars related news, back in April, we were telling you that Jamie Waylett, known as the bullying Hogwarts School pupil Vincent Crabbe, had been arrested after police discovered he had a cannabis farm in his own bedroom. He was detained for possession and producing a class B drug, but speculation abounded that the 19-year-old star was also taking and dealing the drug, which made him liable for a bigger jail sentence. As of now, nothing has been heard of the charges brought against Waylett, who, for the record, was not dealing with such allegations for the second time in less than two years.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” opens in London on July 7, and will see a wide international release starting with July 15. For more on Grint’s condition, keep an eye on this space.