THE APEX TIMES
Ruari Spooner, Bill Burr and Chris O’Dowd join Ireland shoot for coming-of-age comedy “Bender”
The cast of the coming-of-age comedy “Bender” is expanding, with Ruari Spooner, who plays Percy Weasley in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series, set to appear alongside Bill Burr, Chris O’Dowd and Slow Horses actress Ruth Bradley.
Ruari Spooner, known for playing Percy Weasley in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series, has joined the cast of the coming-of-age comedy “Bender,” Deadline reported in an exclusive. The film is currently scheduled to shoot in Ireland over the summer, with Spooner added to a lineup that already includes Bill Burr and Chris O’Dowd.
Deadline said Spooner’s role would have him join Ruth Bradley, a cast member from Slow Horses, in a group described as anchored by established comedy talent and breakout newcomers. The outlet also reported that the cast will include a newcomer named Kitty Graham.
“Bender” is being framed by Deadline as a crowd-pleasing mash-up of teen-comedy energy and a specific regional sensibility, describing it as “Superbad meets Derry …” Deadline’s description used “Derry” as shorthand for the kind of atmosphere the film is aiming to capture, though the outlet did not provide additional plot details in its report.
Bill Burr and Chris O’Dowd are both attached to star in the project, according to Deadline. The report did not detail the characters they will play, or whether any previously announced cast members have formally been replaced or expanded as a result of Spooner’s addition.
The production’s location choice, Ireland, is set as part of the timeline Deadline cited, with the shoot planned for the summer. Deadline did not provide a start date, filming length, or a distribution plan for the finished film in its report.
Spooner’s casting arrives while his “Harry Potter” work is described in Deadline’s report as tied to HBO’s upcoming series, a project that positions him within a major franchise while he takes on a separate, adult-oriented comedy project set outside the United States.
Beyond the cast announcements, Deadline did not include information on the film’s creative team, such as its director, screenwriters, or producers, nor did it specify whether “Bender” is an original script or an adaptation. Those details were not confirmed in the material provided for this report.
Why It Matters
- Casting additions like Spooner’s can shape expectations for audiences who follow performers across major franchises and independent comedy projects.
- A summer shoot in Ireland may affect local production staffing, hospitality demand, and regional film support services during the filming window.
- The pairing of established comedy stars with a cast that includes a newcomer suggests the project may be aiming for a balance of broad comedy and character-driven coming-of-age dynamics.
- The separate release track from HBO’s “Harry Potter” series underscores how performers manage schedule and genre reach across multiple high-profile projects.
- Without further details on production leadership and distribution, observers will need subsequent announcements to understand how quickly “Bender” moves from filming to release.
Sources
Key Facts
- Ruari Spooner, who plays Percy Weasley in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series, has joined the cast of the coming-of-age comedy “Bender,” Deadline reported.
- “Bender” is scheduled to film in Ireland over the summer.
- The cast also includes Bill Burr, Chris O’Dowd, and Ruth Bradley (from “Slow Horses”), according to Deadline.
- Deadline said the film will also include newcomer Kitty Graham.
- Deadline described “Bender” with the phrase “Superbad meets Derry …,” as part of its character and tone description.