Bill Nighy talks new projects and being a fan

Bill Nighy, who portrayed Rufus Scrimgeour in the Potter films, recently discussed his latest projects in an interview with the Sunday Express. Among these projects includes the film Dad’s Army, which is particularly significant to Nighy, considering the fact that he is a huge fan of the original television show!

Nighy reportedly has recordings of all 80 episodes of the program, which aired between 1968 and 1977 and was watched regularly by between 18 to 20 million viewers!

Nighy describes his love of the series, saying,

I was a fan at the time and still am today.

Nighy will be taking on the role of Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the upcoming film, but his admiration for the television series did give him a degree of apprehension.

Nighy explains:

It is such a beloved project, I approached it with trepidation. How could I live up to John Le Mesurier from the original TV series?

Joining Nighy in the cast of Dad’s Army will be such names as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sir Tom Courtenay, and even Potter alumni Sir Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore).

With such a star-studded cast, the film is already one of the most anticipated of the coming year, and Nighy seems confidents that the film will deliver on audience expectations. He says,

I don’t think anyone is going to be disappointed.

Nighy also has another big film set to release next year, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which also features Dames Judi Dench and Potter’s own Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall).

With such blockbuster films on his horizon, Nighy’s life seems to be one of glamour, but it hasn’t always been easy for the 65 year-old actor. Nighy’s youth was turbulent. He admittedly ran away from home in his teens and turned to alcohol for comfort. Nighy’s goal was to emulate the notorious novelist, Ernest Hemingway, a pursuit which turned out to be unsuccessful.

Nighy says,

I turned up in Paris to write the great English novel and ended up not writing a word.

After returning home, disgraced by his failed attempt at becoming the next great novelist, Nighy’s girlfriend encouraged him to go to drama school. A career path which proved much for fruitful for him, as he has now appeared in some of the most popular films of our time including, of course, Harry Potter, as well as Pirates of the Caribbean, Love Actually, as well as many more.

Says Nighy of his success in the film industry,

Acting has been good to me and films like this are the evidence. I always thought acting would be better than working.

Watch the trailer for Nighy’s film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, below!

Are you excited for Nighy’s upcoming films? Will you be going to see them when they hit theaters near you?