First look at Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows as new shots from film are released

By Sarah Bull

New look: Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood in a shot taken from Harry Potter And The Deathy Hallows: Part I


Despite being signed up to star in both parts of the film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's final Harry Potter book, Ifans admitted recently he has never been a fan of the franchise.

Rhys Ifans can usually be found playing hilarious characters in films such as Notting Hill and The Boat That Rocked.

But now the Welsh actor is exploring a different kind of role - as Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.

In promotional shots revealed ahead of the film's release, Ifans is seen with long white hair wearing a tattered old cardigan as he poses on a set of stairs outside his character's home.

Xenophilius the father of Harry's eccentric friend Luna Lovegood, as well as being the publisher of the Quibbler magazine.


What a difference: Ifans as he usually looks without his long white hair and tattered clothes


He said in an interview with BBC Radio Wales: 'I can't reveal much about the new Harry Potter film, which I don't understand because the book is out anyway, but I had to sign a clause that I wouldn't.


'But I play Xenophilus Lovegood, a wizard who is the father of Luna Lovegood, one of Harry Potter's friends. That's all I can really say because I haven't read the book!

'I'm not a big fan of Harry Potter but it feels like a privilege to get called up with people like Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon so it's an honour that they thought of me to play a cross-eyed wizard.'

As well as Ifans, Gambon and Smith, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part I stars Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt, Helen McCrory, Bill Nighy, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

The first part of the final two films begins as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) set out on a perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality.

Without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever - as dark forces threaten to tear them apart.

New shots released from the film confirm reports that the movie is likely to be the darkest Harry Potter film yet.

While Hermione is seen looking shocked while holding up her hands which are covered in blood, Harry is pictured looking tense as he reaches for an unknown object while laying apparently injured on the floor.


Darkest film yet: Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger, is seen holding up her blood-covered hands


Scary: Daniel Radcliffe, who stars as teenage wizard Harry Potter, is pictured reaching for an unknown object while laying on the floor


Speaking about how difficult it was to shoot two Harry Potter films back to back, Radcliffe told fans at the BFI Movie-Con III in London recently: 'It was hard.

Before, the producers and directors were very good at taking all the pressure on their shoulders, but this time going into it we were slightly more nervous than we were before, because we didn’t want to screw it up as it's the last one.

'It was a long shoot, near enough 18 months, but a film set is the best place in the world as far as I’m concerned. The first part is a very weird road movie kind of thing.

'The first part is slower paced, but only compared to the second part. There’s more of an exploration of the relationships between the characters, that’s tested for the first times. And you’re not in Hogwarts, which gives it a very different feel from the other movies.


Romantic: The new film will see the beginning of the relationship between Harry and Ginny Weasley, played by Bonnie Wright


All-star cast: (Right to left) Helena Bonham Carter, Helen McCrory, Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton


'This is the first time I’m genuinely excited to see the film. Because it was filmed over such a long period, I’ve genuinely forgotten what we shot early on.'

Radcliffe's co-star Watson said before shooting the final scenes that she was certain she would find it difficult to film the exit scene, adding: 'It's been half of our lives. It's made us, it's formed us. It's such a big part of my life so it will be really sad.'

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows sees director David Yates back at the helm.


Speeding off into the night: Harry sits in a sidecar while his giant friend Hagrid drives a motorcycle


Trouble? A trailer from the film shows an argument between Harry and Ron which ends physically


He was also behind Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix and Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.

The second Deathly Hallows film will see Harry, Hermione and Ron aged, using the same ageing technology employed by experts on The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.

Speaking about how she would find it to see herself as a 40-year-old, Watson laughed: 'I can't wait to see that!'

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is released on November 19.


source :dailymail