Daniel Radcliffe, the original Harry Potter, has extended a warm hand of support to the next generation of young actors taking on the iconic roles. The actor made a surprise revelation during an appearance on Good Morning America in New York on Tuesday, disclosing that he had written a personal letter to the boy stepping into his magical shoes.
A Sweet Exchange Between Wizards
Radcliffe confirmed that he took the initiative to reach out to 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, who was announced in May as the star of the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. "I wrote to Dominic and I sent him a letter and he sent me a very sweet note back," Radcliffe shared with the audience. He was quick to clarify that he doesn't expect to be a mentor figure, stating, "I wouldn't say that anyone who is going to play Harry has to [call me]."
His motivation was purely one of goodwill and shared experience. "I do not want to be a spectre in the lives of these children," he explained. "I just wanted to write to [McLaughlin] to say, '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.'"
New Faces for a New Decade-Long Adaptation
The new series, produced by HBO, is set to be a "faithful adaptation" of J.K. Rowling's beloved books. The casting process, which included an open call, has also revealed other key actors. Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will take on the role of Ron Weasley.
They will be guided by an all-star adult cast, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
The project is immensely ambitious, with HBO and Max Content chairman, Casey Bloys, confirming the series will run for "10 consecutive years," mirroring the long-term commitment of the original film series that ran from 2001 to 2011. The show is scheduled to premiere in 2027.
Radcliffe's Bittersweet Connection to the New Series
Seeing the new, young cast has evoked strong emotions in Radcliffe. "I just see these pictures of him and the other kids and I just want to hug them," he admitted. "They just seem so young. I do look at them and say, 'Oh it's crazy I was doing that.' But it's also incredibly sweet and I hope they're having a great time."
Despite his supportive gesture, Radcliffe has publicly distanced himself from the new production following his falling out with author J.K. Rowling over trans rights and gender identity issues. He has been clear that he has no plans to be involved in the series, telling E! Online in 2024, "I think [the producers] very wisely want to [have] a clean break. And I don't know if it would work to have us do anything in it." Rowling, however, remains involved as an executive producer.
