Kevin Guthrie was once positioned as a rising name in the Wizarding World, appearing as Abernathy in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and its sequel. However, the power he built within the Harry Potter universe came to a sudden halt in 2021, when he was convicted of s-xual assault and placed on the s-x offenders register (via BBC).
The conviction immediately reshaped his career: projects stopped, industry ties vanished, and his on-screen presence disappeared almost overnight. Since his release in 2022, Guthrie has not returned to film or television at all, leaving his IMDb page frozen and his former franchise visibility erased.
His trajectory, from supporting franchise actor to complete industry absence, remains one of the most dramatic career collapses in Hollywood.
How Kevin Guthrie’s Career Fell Faster Than Any Harry Potter Star
At one point, the Scottish actor seemed to be in the sweet spot of franchise fame. After delivering strong performances in films like Sunshine on Leith (2013) and Sunset Song (2015), he landed the role of Abernathy in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and its sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), joining the expanding universe of Harry Potter. With such a platform, many expected a steadily ascending career, but what followed was an unexpected shift.
While Guthrie’s screen presence vanished, other actors within the Harry Potter universe, even those who faced criticism or career dips, managed to stay visible. Even actors with negative press, such as Ezra Miller, remained tied to large-scale productions for years despite public controversy.
From being part of a global franchise to vanishing from public projects in just a few years, Guthrie’s fall remains remarkably swift. While other former Harry Potter actors still appear in supporting roles, fan conventions, or media cameos, Guthrie is completely off the radar. His quick rise, valuable franchise visibility, and then complete silence stand as one of the most dramatic career collapses connected to the Wizarding World.
The Online Storm That Made Kevin Guthrie’s Comeback Impossible
The digital fallout after Guthrie’s conviction moved faster than any industry decision could. As soon as news of his 2021 sentencing became public, social media platforms filled with discussions and reposted articles that kept his case constantly resurfacing. The internet quickly circulated the story, creating a digital trail that has not faded even years later.
In the era of screenshot archives and algorithm-driven recirculation, Guthrie’s name became tied to the conviction in every search result, making a clean return nearly impossible.
Unlike actors whose controversies fade behind new roles, Guthrie faced an industry already strained by ongoing controversies around J.K. Rowling, leaving even less space for a scandal-hit actor to re-emerge.
Any attempt at re-entering the industry would immediately hit a wall: trending tags resurface old reports, comment sections reignite the conversation, and entertainment pages repost past headlines. For casting teams and studios, this level of digital baggage translates into risk, not just PR concerns but guaranteed backlash.
Even years after the actor’s release, the force of these online reactions continues to shape perception. His name still trends periodically whenever franchises like Fantastic Beasts are mentioned, especially after Eddie Redmayne confirmed the series has effectively ended.
In today’s media landscape, where online narrative often outweighs traditional publicity, the enduring visibility of his scandal has become the biggest barrier to any kind of professional return, effectively closing the door on a comeback before it could even begin.
What do you think? Was this downfall inevitable? Or do you think things could have gone differently? Drop your take in the comments!
All Harry Potter movies are available to stream on HBO Max.
