Gleeson would join his father, returning player Brendan Gleeson, who has appeared in the series since the 2005 release Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as popular character Professor Alastor “MadEye” Moody.
"I'd been very certain about not wanting to do the acting thing because of my father," the younger Gleeson told Broadway.com in 2006 about his pursuit of acting. "I thought I'd always have the father-son thing of 'He got you the part.'" Fortunately, the actor’s Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Davey in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, written by playwright Martin McDonagh, a frequent collaborator of his father’s, solidified his stand-alone talent. The performer’s additional credits include the productions of Chimps Liverpool Playhouse and The Well of the Saints Druid Theater Company, as well as the films Six Shooter, Studs and A Dog Year.
Gleeson would also join the list of fellow Broadway alums to appear in the Harry Potter series, including recent Equus stars Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths, Dame Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, John Cleese, Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, Miriam Margolyes, Michael Gambon, Frances de la Tour and Fiona Shaw.
Gleeson is expected to be cast as Bill Weasley, the oldest sibling of title character’s best friend, Ron Weasley.