James and Oliver Phelps say they embrace still being called Fred and George Weasley

James and Oliver Phelps, the actors who played Fred and George Weasley in the “Harry Potter” films, appreciate still being known as the prankster twins long after the films ended.

The twin brothers sat down with select members of the Philippine press ahead of the grand launch event of streaming service Max. GMA News Online asked the actors what it was like to still be recognized as Fred and George.

“It's funny because it's something that we've kind of, I suppose we’ve kind of got used to that it could be anywhere and they’re like, ‘There they are,’” Oliver, who played George, said.

“It doesn't matter where we go on the planet," he added. "It's one of those things where people know. You could be in the back end of Timbuktu and [they would] say [‘are you from] ‘Harry Potter?’” 

He revealed that they could be at a concert, a football game, or walking down a street, and still be called the Weasleys.

The actor said that the magic-filled film series is “such a great thing to be part of.”

“And I think we're very fortunate to have played the characters that we played, who are so beloved,” Oliver said. “I think people want to hang out with Fred and George. People want to pick their brains about pranks or something like that.”

“So when people do come up to us and start talking to us, it's nice that they feel that they can. That's the nice thing about it,” he added.

James, who played Fred, agreed that they had gotten used to it. The twins also said that being called by their characters is something they embrace.

“You can go anywhere in the world, and someone will have heard [or] at least heard of [‘Harry Potter’]. Maybe not know what it is, but definitely would have heard of it, and it's very cool to be a part of,” James said.

Oliver added, “We've learned over the years what the characters mean to people, what the stories mean to people, and that's only a good thing.”

James also said that their fellow cast members still love being part of the iconic fantasy film series, and that their friendship is similar to having lifelong friends from school.

“You may not see them all the time, but you're still in contact,” James said.

“And there is a WhatsApp group which pop up every so often, [so everyone knows] what’s going on,” he added.

Aside from playing the pranksters Fred and George Weasley in the “Harry Potter” franchise, James and Oliver are also the hosts of the Max reality show, “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking," where contestants make sweet creations inspired by the films.

At the launch event, James and Oliver greeted their Filipino fans, had a quick program with members of the media, and lit up Max’s Christmas tree in Central Square, Bonifacio Global City.

Max launched in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Hong Kong on Tuesday, November 19.

Its is home to brands like HBO, Cartoon Network, and the DC Universe, as well as several Pinoy content like “Drag Race Philippines” and “On The Job.”

Subscription plans range from P149 to P2,790. All existing HBO GO subscriptions will automatically become Max subscriptions and users will be directed to the new streaming site.

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good ??????????????

James and Oliver Phelps, or Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter films, graced the launch of Max in the Philippines! @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/znSLFve41P

— Nika Roque (@rqNIKA) November 19, 2024

—JCB, GMA Integrated News