Daniel Radcliffe, the actor forever synonymous with the boy wizard, has revealed a touching gesture of support for the next generation. The 36-year-old has personally written to the young Scots actor, Dominic McLaughlin, who has been cast as Harry Potter in the forthcoming HBO television series.
A Magical Passing of the Torch
Radcliffe explained that upon hearing the news that 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin would be stepping into the iconic role, he felt compelled to reach out. He penned a personal letter to the young actor, recalling that he was the same age when filming began for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001.
In an interview with Good Morning America, Radcliffe shared his thoughts, stating, "I wrote to Dominic, I sent him a letter and he sent me a very sweet note back." He was quick to clarify that he doesn't want to loom over the new cast, but simply wanted to offer his encouragement. His message was one of pure goodwill: "I hope you have the best time, and an even better time than I did - I had a great time, but I hope you have an even better time."
Meeting the New Trio
The casting of the lead roles for the highly anticipated HBO series was officially announced in May. Dominic McLaughlin, a Glaswegian who trained at the Performance Academy Scotland in Cambuslang, will take on the titular role. He will be joined by Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, forming the new on-screen trio.
Radcliffe expressed his affection for the new young cast, saying, "I just see these pictures of him and the other kids and I just want to hug them. They just seem so young. I do look at them and go, 'Oh it’s crazy I was doing that at that age'. But it’s also incredibly sweet and I hope they’re having a great time."
Preparing for a Decade-Long Adventure
The production is preparing for a significant undertaking, as the series based on J.K. Rowling's novels is expected to take a full 10 years to complete. The first episodes are scheduled to air in 2027. In a practical move to support its young stars, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden was granted permission in July by Three Rivers District Council to build a temporary school facility on site. This will ensure the child actors can continue their education throughout the lengthy production.
In his first interview about the role in August with BBC News, Dominic shared his excitement, calling the opportunity "a bit surreal to be honest." He added, "I was always a huge Harry Potter fan when I was younger. And it was like the dream role, of course, so I’m thrilled to be able to be doing it." With the support of the original Harry himself, the new magical journey is set to begin.
