Rupert Grint: From 'Harry Potter' to London Revival of 'Mojo'

Rupert Grint, who played the redheaded sidekick Ron Weasley in the "Harry Potter" films, will make his stage debut this fall in a West End revival of Jez Butterworth's "Mojo."

Grint, 24, will trade his wizard's wand for drugs as he takes on the role of Sweets, a pill-popping thug in "Mojo."

"Set in a seedy nightclub in the fledgling rock 'n' roll scene of the '50s, 'Mojo' tells the story of a rising rock star, a jealous manager, a scheming gangster, an ambitious club owner, a kidnapping, and a murder that ties it all together," reads a description of the play on Broadway.com. "The show is a dark comedy about the sleazy underworld and power games of London's infamous music district."

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Ian Rickson, who headed the original 1995 production, will again direct. He said he chose Grint after he did a table reading for the role.

"I'd seen the Potter films with my daughter and always thought Rupert was truthful as Ron Weasley," Rickson told the Daily Mail. "There's something ordinary and centered about him, and in this world of 'Mojo' you want that grittiness."

Twitter users are excited for Grint's new role.

I really want to go see Mojo later this year in London. Rupert Grint and Ben Whishaw in the same play? I think so!

— emily fleur (@efleurs) July 29, 2013

Just bought tickets to see Brendan Coyle, Rupert Grint and Ben Whishaw in Mojo at the Harold Pinter in mid-November! Boom! #thespianlove

— Kathryn Murrell (@kreativekt) July 29, 2013

London trip just got a lot more fun! Bought opening night tix for MOJO (starring Brendan Coyle, Rupert Grint, Ben Whishaw). Eeeeee.

— Lauren Oostveen (@laurenoostveen) July 29, 2013

GOD I need to see this. Mad ginger crush on Rupert. http://t.co/cbFr0vCcrF

— nategardner (@nategardner) July 28, 2013

Rupert Grint as gangster on Mojo? Hmmm.

— Ni Made Fajar Diah P (@niumade) July 29, 2013

Also starring Ben Whishaw, Daniel Mays, and "Downton Abbey's" Brendan Coyle, "Mojo" begins preview performances in October at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

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