Bill Nighy to star in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Former Pirates of the Caribbean star Bill Nighy is joining the cast of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as minister of magic Rufus Scrimgeour.

The 59-year-old, who once joked he was the "only British actor who hasn't been in Harry Potter", told reporters of his new role at a book festival launch.

"I am in the next Harry Potter," he told reporters.

"I will be Rufus Scrimgeour, who is the Minister of Magic and he is a very very important man."

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Scrimgeour takes over from Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic in The Half-Blood Prince in the books, but you won't see him on screen until the Deathly Hallows.

Bill Nighy, who played Davy Jones in the Pirates films, added: "I am no longer the only English actor not to be in Harry Potter and I am very pleased."

The sixth film in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is out on 15 July.

The Deathly Hallows is being released in two parts, in November 2010 and July 2011.