It happened in 2011. A scruffy, ginger-haired guy sits in a tour bus, scribbling lyrics with a focused intensity that feels almost uncomfortable. He’s wearing the hoodie. He’s got the guitar. For the first three minutes of the "Lego House" music video, millions of people genuinely thought they were watching Ed Sheeran.
Then the camera pulls back.
Security tackles the guy. The real Ed Sheeran walks out of an elevator, looking confused, while Rupert Grint—the actual star of the video—is dragged away like a manic superfan. It was a cultural reset for the early 2010s. Honestly, it’s still one of the smartest marketing moves in pop history.
But why did it work? And why, over a decade later, did they decide to do it all over again?
The "Lookalike" Gag That Fooled the World
People have been calling Ed Sheeran "Ron Weasley" since he was playing to three people in a pub. Ed knew this. He didn't just know it; he leaned into it.
The Ed Sheeran and Rupert Grint video for "Lego House" wasn't just a random celebrity cameo. It was a meta-commentary on fame. By casting Grint—who was then coming off the massive high of the final Harry Potter film—Ed effectively hijacked the actor's global recognition to boost his own rising star.
- The deception: Grint spent the whole video lip-syncing perfectly.
- The twist: He wasn't Ed; he was a stalker who had broken into the dressing room.
- The payoff: The two redheads finally meet in a hallway for about three seconds.
It’s easy to forget how risky this was. At the time, Ed was still "the new guy." Handing the lead role of your breakout single's video to a Hollywood A-lister could have easily backfired. People might have just focused on the guy from Harry Potter and ignored the music. Instead, it created a permanent link between them.
Rupert has joked in interviews, specifically on The Late Late Show, that people still come up to him today and congratulate him on his "music career." He usually just says thanks. It's easier that way.
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Why the 2025 Sequel Changed Everything
If you haven't seen the follow-up, you're missing out on some chaotic energy. In August 2025, Ed dropped "A Little More" from his album Play.
The video is... a lot.
It picks up 14 years later. Rupert's character is released from prison—presumably for the stalking he did in the "Lego House" video. It starts off somewhat grounded. He’s trying to move on. He goes to therapy. He even goes to a "Stalkers Anonymous" meeting.
But Ed is everywhere.
He’s the therapist. He’s the bus driver. He’s a bridesmaid at Rupert’s wedding. In the most "bonkers" moment (Ed’s words, not mine), the video ends with the two of them dancing together, with Sheeran wearing a full white wedding dress. It’s absurd. It’s high-effort trolling. But beneath the layers of ginger-on-ginger crime, there’s actually a pretty deep message about how certain people or memories just refuse to leave your head.
The Production Secret: It Wasn't Just One Shoot
When they filmed the original "Lego House" at the University of Hertfordshire’s Forum, it wasn't a quick afternoon job.
Director Emil Nava had to coordinate the "tackle" scene eight different times. Rupert Grint took those falls like a pro. Most people don't realize that the "Lego House" video also spawned a complete shot-for-shot LEGO recreation. A 17-year-old animator named Dylan Woodley spent 50 days matching every single frame using actual plastic bricks.
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The level of detail in the Ed Sheeran and Rupert Grint video universe is honestly staggering.
A Quick Breakdown of the Video Timeline
- 2011: "Lego House" is released. Rupert plays the obsessed stalker.
- 2013: The LEGO-fied version drops, making the "Lego House" title literal.
- 2017: Rupert appears on MTV's After Hours and "reveals" that Ed Sheeran doesn't exist—it’s just been Rupert in a disguise the whole time.
- 2025: The "A Little More" video serves as a direct sequel, showing the aftermath of the obsession.
Why This Matters for Content Creators
You’ve gotta admire the long game here. Most artists forget their old music videos the moment the next album cycle starts. Ed and Rupert turned a physical resemblance into a 14-year narrative.
It works because it’s authentic. They are actually friends. Their daughters apparently play together. That chemistry—or lack thereof, when Rupert is playing a terrifying fan—can't be faked by AI or a green screen.
Nuance is everything. In "Lego House," the song is actually about a crumbling relationship. It's a sad song. The video, however, is a psychological thriller-comedy. That contrast is what makes it sticky. It makes you want to watch it twice just to see what you missed.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan of the "Ed-verse," there are a few things you should actually check out beyond the main videos.
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- Watch the "Lego House" Behind-the-Scenes: There is footage of Rupert Grint trying to learn Ed’s specific way of playing guitar. He’s surprisingly good at it.
- Check out the 2013 LEGO Remake: Compare it side-by-side with the original. The sync is nearly 100% perfect, which is insane for stop-motion.
- Listen to the Lyrics of "A Little More": Don't let the wedding dress in the video distract you. The song itself is one of Ed’s most vulnerable tracks about the "ghosts" of past relationships.
Go back and watch the transition in "Lego House" at the 3:10 mark. The moment the stage lights hit Rupert and you realize it’s not Ed? That’s how you write a plot twist.
Don't just take my word for it. Watch the 2025 video and see if you can spot all the Ed cameos. There are at least seven hidden throughout the wedding scene alone.