Was Harry Recast on 9-1-1?

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Was Harry Recast on 9-1-1?

As a longtime fan of 9-1-1, I must admit that the sudden transformation of Harry Grant in Season 7 left me utterly bewildered. After years of following this gripping series, I felt like I was watching an entirely different show when Harry returned to our screens, looking significantly older and with a new face.

When viewers dialed 9-1-1 during Season 7, Episode 4 titled “Buck, Bothered, and Bewildered,” in April 2024, many were left pondering the sudden change in Athena’s son Harry’s appearance. In fact, since Harry had been living far away with his father for years, fans shared Athena Grant’s (Angela Bassett) surprise upon seeing her son back in her Los Angeles residence, now a young adult who bore little resemblance to the boy they once knew.

As Fox airs the eighth season of “9-1-1” on September 26, 2024, let’s delve into whether the character of Harry has been replaced, the factors behind this choice, who is taking over his role, and how this affects Athena’s storyline moving forward. In the initial three episodes of Season 8, Los Angeles is under attack by a lethal swarm of bees – here’s what we know so far about Harry’s unexpected change.

What Is 9-1-1 About?

Was Harry Recast on 9-1-1?

9-1-1 is an American television series that blends crime procedural and medical drama genres, developed by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear for the Fox network. This show focuses on the personal and professional challenges faced by various law enforcement personnel, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), first responders, ambulance drivers, and the entire system of individuals who strive to prevent crime and aid victims. The large cast offers opportunities for numerous characters to take center stage, but primarily, the storyline revolves around LAPD Patrol Sergeant Athena Grant, portrayed by Angela Bassett, a resilient leader, caring mother, and devoted wife, who juggles her demanding work life with her family responsibilities.

Over the course of seven seasons spanning more than 100 episodes, audiences grow familiar with Athena, her husband Bobby Nash (played by Peter Krause), and their lives within the Los Angeles Fire Department. Fans also discover that Athena has a son named Harry (Marcanthonee Jon Reis), whom she co-parents with her ex-husband Michael Grant (Rockmond Dunbar). From Seasons 2 to 5, Harry was a central character on 9-1-1, residing with Athena, Bobby, and his older sister May in Los Angeles. However, in Season 6, Harry’s presence on the show comes to an end as he moves away to live with Michael in Miami.

Who Is Harry in 9-1-1?

Was Harry Recast on 9-1-1?

Instead of being just a minor character often overlooked, Harry has found himself at the heart of numerous intense 9-1-1 storylines since the series began. In Season 5, Episode 4, titled “Home and Away,” Harry finds himself in a chilling situation when he is kidnapped by a repeat offender named Jeffery Hudson as part of a revenge plot against Athena. Harry ends up bound, gagged, and confined within the trunk of a car. While making a stop for supplies, Harry manages to stage a thrilling escape, but Jeffrey quickly recaptures him and forces him back into the vehicle.

In a dilapidated building, the attacker confines Harry, intending for him to perish. However, luckily, May, his sister, spots the crime video online, alerts their mother Athena, resulting in Harry’s timely rescue. Subsequently, Harry grapples with intense PTSD and struggles to heal from the traumatic event. Unfortunately, a disagreement ensues between Athena and Harry, leading her to slap him, adding more distress to his already burdened state.

In an attempt to escape his problems in L.A., Harry decides to live with his father, Michael, in Florida. However, he finds himself in further trouble in Miami, leading the police to hunt him down following a brawl. Maintaining his innocence and asserting that he was merely defending himself, Harry returns to Los Angeles. Athena remains skeptical, but evidence from a video later proves Harry’s claim to be true, resulting in a heartfelt reconciliation between mother and son. Nevertheless, the court orders Harry to serve 100 hours of community service in L.A.

Was Harry Recast in 9-1-1?

Was Harry Recast on 9-1-1?

Marcanthonee Reis last portrayed the character Harry Grant on 9-1-1 in Season 5, Episode 11 titled “Outside Looking In”, which was broadcast on March 21, 2022. After being absent for 29 episodes, Harry reappeared in Season 7, specifically Episode 4 named “Buck, Bothered, and Bewildered,” in Athena’s kitchen. Fans noticed that he had significantly aged and appeared quite different from his previous appearances on the show.

The actor portraying Harry in 9-1-1 has changed, with Elijah M. Cooper stepping into the role. Recognizable from shows like Goosebumps, Chicago P.D., Evil, The Rookie, and others, Cooper takes over for Marcanthonee Reis who chose not to reprise his role as Harry Grant following 74 episodes spanning from 2018 to 2022, despite the character’s unusual aging from 2022 to 2024 that wasn’t due to a teenage growth spurt.

According to show creator Tim Minear via TV Line:

As a fervent admirer, I got in touch with Marcanthonee after a long hiatus, proposing an intriguing tale. While it seemed he appreciated the story, it appeared that he was eager to embark on fresh adventures and potentially explore new horizons.

According to Minear, intentionally choosing a more seasoned actor for the role emphasized Athena’s lack of recognition. In simpler terms, he made a conscious decision to cast an older actor to highlight that Athena was not well-known or recognized.

“When introducing a fresh face in a well-established character, it’s important to signify that something has shifted. In this narrative, it seemed fitting to subtly convey this transformation as Athena, the character, expresses her surprise at how much her child, who is now Harry, has grown and changed.”

To learn more about where Harry’s plot unfolds in his latest tale, make sure you watch the Season 8 debut of 9-1-1 on ABC, airing on September 26, 2024.

9-1-1 is available to stream on Hulu.

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2024-09-29 22:01