Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection
Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult had a heartwarming reunion over 20 years since appearing in the 2002 rom-com “About a Boy.”
Grant, 64, posted a sweet side-by-side of himself with Hoult, 34, comparing a still from the movie with a photo of the pair outside the 15th Governors Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on November 17.
The former co-stars both attended the star-studded event, with Grant delivering a humor-filled speech that honored British writer-director Richard Curtis. Curtis’ credits include some of Grant’s most successful films, including “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”
But it was Grant’s reunion with Hoult that made headlines.
Hoult was only 12 years old when “About a Boy” was released. He plays Marcus, the awkward child of a single mom (played by Toni Collette). His mom has a one-night stand with Grant’s rich playboy character, Will, who winds up taking Marcus under his wing.
More than two decades later, Grant and Hoult still appear to be thick as thieves.
“We’re cute,” the younger actor replied to Grant’s photo on X.
Their impromptu get-together delighted fans and sparked demand for a second “About a Boy” installment.
“Legacy sequel time…?” one fan commented. “Love this. ABOUT A BOY was a brilliant film. Dare I say… sequel?” another X user wrote.
Others commented on Hoult’s impressive career.
Since appearing on the screen with Grant, he’s been in a number of hit movies, including entries in the “X-Men” series, “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “The Menu.”
“If it wasn’t for your excellent coaching skills in that movie Nicholas wouldn’t have become the great adult he is today. Well done dad,” someone replied.
Another added: “You’ve both got even better with age. That guitar scene at the school talent show was absolute genius.”
Hoult revealed in 2021 that he and Grant hadn’t stayed in touch after filming “About a Boy,” but he admitted to watching his co-star’s career from afar.
“In my head, I’m thinking it’s a kind of Hughnaissance, or something,” he said, per The Guardian.
“He had so much pressure on him [back then], and to see him free of that and just doing these wonderful dramas,” Hoult continued, adding, “I had so much fun watching him in Paddington 2, he was wonderful, and then in A Very English Scandal, and I’m about to start watching The Undoing. I’m enjoying what he’s doing at the moment, a lot.”
While he and Grant have not appeared on-screen together since, Hoult did recently team up with Collette on Clint Eastwood’s “Juror No. 2,” released in October.
His former movie mom gushed about his growing stardom during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“To see you as this evolved human and being able to watch him going through [these scenes]. I could see everything in his mind. I could feel the energy of what his emotions were. I felt so proud of him,” Collette told Hoult in the interview. “I was like, ‘My God, look how talented he is.’ It really blew me away. And then we got to hang out. We got to become friends properly, and it’s been a total gift. It’s a treat to come back together again.”