Deathly Hallows Has Found Its Scrimgeour?

I don't think I'm allowed to say it but I'm going to be in the next Harry Potter film," he tells us. "I won't say which character, but he's a goodie. I just got the gig." If you don't mind us saying, it's about time, Bill. The rangy actor has been dropping hints for aeons, once complaining that he was "the only British actor who hasn't been in Harry Potter". But has he read the books? "Not yet, but I will!" he says. "It's rather like being in a Shakespeare that way, you know?"

Rumors have been circulating that Nighy will be playing Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour.

Scrimgeour for those not familiar with the books succeeds Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic towards the end of The Half-Blood Prince. Scrimgeour tries to undo Fudge's mistakes by reaching out to Potter and attempting to co-opt him into the Ministry's anti-Voldemort campaign. Harry who's understandably sick of the Ministry's inconsistent attitudes, refuses his invitation. Scrimgeour is later placed under the Imperius Curse by Death Eaters and tortured to find Potter's whereabouts, being killed when he refuses to co-operate - so he gets a rather heroic death in the end.

Bill Nighy is best known for roles in The Pirates Of The Caribbean, Underworld, Hot Fuzz, Valkyrie, and two of my absolute favorites Love Actually and Blow Dry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is out on July 15. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released in two parts, in November 2010 and July 2011.