Harry Potter star's film pushed back to make way for Taylor Swift
Grow delayed to Oct. 18 as Taylor Swift project dominates October weekend
Grow, the family comedy starring Dominic McLaughlin and Nick Frost, has shifted its release date from Oct. 3 to Oct. 18 to avoid competing with Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl. Deadline reported the date change on Monday, noting that the new release aligns with the pop star's high-profile film opening on the same weekend.
Grow was directed by John McPhail and filmed in Scotland. McLaughlin plays Oliver Gregory, Frost's character is named Arlo, and the ensemble also includes Jeremy Swift, Priya-Rose Brookwell, Jane Horrocks, Tim McInnerny and Golda Rosheuvel. A logline describes the story as an exuberant tale full of giant pumpkins, madcap characters, and a little girl who just might be a pumpkin-growing savant.
Two of Grow's stars are prominent figures in the upcoming HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter franchise. Arabella Stanton will portray Hermione Granger, Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley, respectively, on the new series. The casting paired with McLaughlin's presence in Grow has added to fan anticipation for the HBO project.
Taylor Swift's forthcoming film, Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, has sparked substantial advance ticket sales, with organizers reporting more than 15 million in presales and a projected opening week between 30 million and 50 million. The numbers underscore Swift's capacity to drive box-office interest, following the momentum of her Eras Tour last year.
Deadline noted that none of the other studios with major releases scheduled for the Oct 3 weekend were expected to shift dates because of the cost involved. The decision reflects the delicate balance studios strike between capital outlay and potential returns when prominent titles collide on a crowded calendar.
Swift, 35, has been in the public eye for weeks over her engagement to Travis Kelce. The couple announced their engagement in an August 26 Instagram post that showcased five photos of the pair in a romantic setting and featured a caption about their upcoming wedding, fueling widespread media attention around Swift's personal life.
The release-date shuffles surrounding Grow illustrate how cross-media star power and high-profile releases can reshape the fall entertainment landscape. As the Harry Potter universe moves toward its HBO adaptation, and as Swift's music-driven franchise continues to expand into cinema, industry watchers say the convergence of fan bases and media events is redefining the competition for audience attention and dollars.