Timothy Spall Reflects on His Favorite Scene as Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter While Teasing New Series

Timothy Spall pictured alongside himself as Peter Pettigrew in ‘Harry Potter.’
Credit:

Jason Mendez/Getty; Murray Close/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Timothy Spall revealed one of his favorite scenes from Harry Potter.
• The actor played the role of Peter Pettigrew in the movie franchise from 2004 to 2010.
• Spall spoke to PEOPLE at the ‘Goodbye June’ N.Y.C. Special Screening on Monday, Dec. 8.

Timothy Spall recently reflected on his time in the Harry Potter franchise, sharing insights into his portrayal of the character Peter Pettigrew.

While attending a special screening of Goodbye June in New York City, the 68-year-old actor discussed one of his favorite moments as Pettigrew, better known as Wormtail. He described the character as “a weak character that wants to survive,” adding, “I mean, he doesn’t ultimately, does he?”

Spall highlighted a particularly memorable scene from the 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, stating, “But he’s up there with the best, cooking Lord Voldemort in a pot of stew and carrying it around like a hot, vile little baby was one of my favorite moments in any film.” This scene depicted Wormtail assisting in Voldemort’s resurrection by preparing a potion with his own flesh.

Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew also known as Wormtail.

Murray Close/Warner Bros.

When asked if he had any guidance for the cast of the upcoming Harry Potter series, Spall replied, “Well, I don’t know. I’ve never given any advice to actors.” He emphasized that every actor must find their unique approach to the character, noting, “There is so much good writing, good characters, classic. You can do it as many different ways as you like.”

Spall expressed admiration for the character’s complexity, stating, “There is something very complex about somebody that is that evil and also kind of vulnerable at the same time. That’s what I liked about him.” He elaborated on the character’s nature, suggesting that his “function as a despicable character” stems from his “vulnerability,” “feebleness,” and “weakness.” According to Spall, such traits can manifest in malice: “That reaction comes out as a despicable evil, and to me, it is a very interesting thing. And actually, he’s quite indicative of quite a lot of evil in general.”

Looking at the broader implications of evil, Spall remarked that they often “tend to be screwed up and a lot of evil is often displacement activity or survival.”

Production for the anticipated TV adaptation of Harry Potter started in July, with the first season set to premiere in 2027. This new series aims to adapt each of the seven books across multiple seasons.

In November, several cast members were spotted filming the reboot in England. The cast includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, among others.

Timothy Spall at the ‘Goodbye June’ New York Special Screening held at The Whitby on December 8, 2025 in New York.

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

While Spall’s previous role in the franchise has yet to be recast, he remains optimistic about the new HBO series. “I cannot imagine it being anything other than a huge success because the franchise has been such a phenomenon,” he told the Hindustan Times earlier this year. He expressed appreciation for the stories’ impact on young readers, stating, “It is such a simple story which is incredibly loved… it has led youngsters to literature.”