“Why Harry Looks So Different in 9-1-1: The Shocking Recast Explained”

When viewers rang up 9-1-1 for Season 7, Episode 4, “Buck, Bothered, and Bewildered,” in April 2024, many wondered why Athena’s son Harry suddenly appeared so different. Indeed, after years of living across the country with his father, fans were just as shocked as Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) to find her son Harry back inside her Los Angeles home, looking all grown up and resembling an entirely different person.

With 9-1-1 premiering its eighth season on Fox on September 26, 2024, the time is right to explore whether Harry has been recast, what went into the decision, who has been tapped as his replacement, and what the development means for Athena’s character ahead. With Los Angeles besieged by a deadly bee swarm in the opening three-episode arc of Season 8, here’s everything known about Harry’s sudden transformation.

What Is 9-1-1 About?

9-1-1 is an American crime procedural and medical drama created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear for Fox. The drama follows the personal and professional trials of several law enforcement officers, EMTs, first responders, ambulance drivers, and the entire network of those dedicated to stopping crime and helping victims. While the ensemble cast allows for many characters to shine, the drama mostly revolves around LAPD Patrol Sergeant Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), a gallant leader and loving mother and wife who does her best to balance her work and home life.

Throughout seven seasons and over 100 episodes, viewers get to know Athena, her husband, and LAFD captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause). Fans also learn that Athena has a son named Harry (Marcanthonee Jon Reis), whom she shares with her ex-husband, Michael Grant (Rockmond Dunbar). From Seasons 2 through 5, Harry was a main character on 9-1-1, living with Athena and Bobby, and his older sister May in Los Angeles. In Season 6, Harry was completely absent from the show after being sent to live with Michael across the country in Miami.

Who Is Harry in 9-1-1?

Far from being a forgettable side character, Harry has been part of several harrowing 9-1-1 storylines since the pilot. During a citywide blackout in Season 5, Episode 4, “Home and Away,” Harry is suddenly kidnapped by a repeat rapist named Jeffery Hudson in a revenge ploy against Athena. Harry is bound, gagged, and stuffed into the trunk of a car. Stopping for supplies, Harry makes a daring escape, only for Jeffrey to capture him and toss him back into the vehicle.

Harry is taken to a condemned house and sealed inside the walls by the assailant, where he is left to die. Fortunately, Harry’s sister May saw a video of the crime posted online, informed her mother Athena, and Harry was rescued in the nick of time. Afterward, Harry is wracked with severe PTSD and has difficulty overcoming the scarring ordeal. Athena tries to assuage her son’s concerns, but an argument leads to her slapping him in the face, causing more pain and frustration for Harry to deal with.

Given his troubles in L.A., Harry moves to Florida to live with his father, Michael. Yet, Harry gets into more trouble in Miami and is forced to return to L.A. when the police come looking for him following a fistfight. Harry maintains his innocence and claims he was defending himself, although Athena does not believe he didn’t start the fight. When video evidence proves Harry was telling the truth, a moment of reconciliation between mother and son occurs. Still, Harry is ordered to stay in Los Angeles and complete 100 hours of community service.

Was Harry Recast in 9-1-1?

The last time Marcanthonee Reis appeared as Harry Grant in 9-1-1 was in Season 5, Episode 11, “Outside Looking In,” which aired on March 21, 2022. In Season 6, it is mentioned that Harry has been living in Miami with Michael and David. Absent for 29 episodes, Harry suddenly appeared in Athena’s kitchen in Season 7, Episode 4, “Buck, Bothered, and Bewildered,” looking much older and far different from what fans were used to.

Harry appeared differently because a new actor had been hired to replace Marcanthonee Reis. The newly cast actor playing Harry in 9-1-1 is Elijah M. Cooper, who fans may recall from Goosebumps, Chicago P.D., Evil, The Rookie, and more. While Harry’s rapid aging from 2022 to 2024 can hardly be attributed to a pubescent growth spurt, it’s worth noting that Marcanthonee Reis was asked to reprise the role but declined. Reis ends his 9-1-1 run after playing Harry Grant for 74 episodes between 2018 and 2022.

According to show creator Tim Minear via TV Line:

“I reached out to Marcanthonee, who hadn’t been around for a minute, and I pitched him this story. I think he loved the story, but was just ready to do something new. [He] was sort of ready to move on.”

Minear adds that recasting a more mature actor was deliberate to underscore Athena’s lack of recognition, adding:

“Part of this story is about not recognizing your own kid, so it also felt like not a pun and not a joke. If you’re going to bring in a new actor in a beloved role, you want to acknowledge the fact that something has changed. So it felt like an organic way to introduce this new Harry into a story where Athena is saying, ‘I look at my kid, he’s grown so much and I kind of don’t recognize him.’”

When viewers rang up 9-1-1 for Season 7, Episode 4, “Buck, Bothered, and Bewildered,” in April 2024, many wondered why Athena’s son Harry suddenly appeared so different. Indeed, after years of living across the country with his father, fans were just as shocked as Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) to find her son Harry back inside her Los Angeles home,…