Bill Nighy Off to ‘The Deathly Hallows’

J.K. Rowling’s coup to have every single, British actor/actress involved in her ‘Harry Potter’ series has just picked up a serious heavyweight.   Bill Nighy, who has been long absent from the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, is set for a role in the two-part finale, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.’   Nighy recently spoke with the London-based newspaper, The Independent, where made the news official.   However, he was tight-lipped about what role he would be playing.

“I don’t think I’m allowed to say it but I’m going to be in the next Harry Potter film.   I won’t say which character, but he’s a goodie. I just got the gig.”

Over at the Leaky Cauldron, the news of Nighy’s casting came a number of weeks ago.   They are now saying that Nighy has been cast as Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister for Magic of the United Kingdom.   This character first appears in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,’ though, since there is no news of Nighy being in that upcoming film, it appears Scrimgeour’s introduction has been delayed until the final film.

Here is how the character is described over at Wikipedia:

He is described as looking like an old lion with tawny hair and bushy eyebrows, with yellow eyes and wire-rimmed spectacles.

Nighy has been quoted as saying he believes he is the only British actor not to have a role in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise.

‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,’ due for release on July 15th, and the two parts of ‘The Deathly Hallows’ are all directed by David Yates.   ‘The Deathly Hallows Pt. 1’ is set for release on November 19th, 2010.   ‘Pt 2’ is set for release on July 15th, 2011.

Sources: The Independent, The Leaky Cauldron