Bill Nighy Embarks On A 'Harry Potter' Crash Course Before 'Deathly Hallows'

The “Harry Potter” franchise hasn’t just launched the careers of young stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. It’s also given a swath of venerable British elder statesmen a chance to flex their witch-and-wizard muscles. Over the years, “Potter” films have featured the heavyweight talents of Kenneth Branagh, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, Julie Christie, Julie Walters, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Jim Broadbent and others.

However, English-born acting legend Bill Nighy didn’t slip into Hogwarts during the first six films, and he was starting to think he never would. “I was beginning to settle on the idea that I would be the only English actor of a certain age who wasn’t in ‘Harry Potter,’” he told MTV News while promoting the animated guinea pig adventure story, “G-Force.”

Recently, Nighy was cast as Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. Check out the video hear the actor talk about the role and the “serious crash course” he’s embarked upon to get up to speed on “Potter” lore.

Tags bill nighy, harry potter and the deathly hallows, Rufus Scrimgeour, Video