Harry Potter alums, Robert Pattinson and Rupert Grint are both battling for the role of Prince Harry in a biopic about the second son of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Casting has begun for The Spare, which will depict pivotal points in Harry’s life, including losing his mother Princess Diana, his relationship with on again/off again flame Chesly Davy, and serving for the Army in Afghanistan.

According to a report from London’s Daily Star, director Peter Kosminsky is excited to make a film about the young monarch’s life.

“I feel a sense of compassion for the guy (Prince Harry). His parents break up in the most spectacularly public way, his mother dies in the most tragic and, again, public way and everything is picked over. He’s a man born to no role. His brother’s the heir and Harry’s the spare,” Kosminsky explains.

I don’t know…isn’t Rob P. a bit past a movie that is really being made about 20 years too soon? On the other hand, I think Ron Weasley would be perfect for this gig.

The Swine Flu has it’s first celebrity victim. Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint has contracted the illness but is expected to be well enough to attend the London premiere of the newest Potter movie next week.

“It has just been confirmed that Rupert Grint has taken a few days out of filming due to a mild bout of swine flu,” his publicist said in a statement Saturday. He has now recovered and is looking forward to joining his fellow cast members at the junket and premieres this week and will then return to filming directly afterwards,” she reports, adding that filming was able to continue as scheduled in Grint’s absence.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens in U.S. theaters July 17.

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