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Daniel Radcliffe shared his reaction to seeing photos of the cast members starring in the Harry Potter reboot TV show over a decade after he rose to fame playing the titular wizard.
On Sunday, the 36-year-old actor, who was the leading star in the movie series adapted from J.K. Rowling's novels about the magical world of wizards, admitted it feels 'surreal.'
Just last week, Radcliffe begged fans not to put pressure on the child actors in the new TV series by making comparisons to the original cast.
He previously said he did not want to become a 'weird spectral phantom' in the children's lives in an interview with Screen Rant on Wednesday, February 18.
The new HBO series will star Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
On Sunday, Radcliffe shared his reaction to seeing the photos of the newcomers taking the baton to play the beloved characters in the series, which is slated for an early 2027 release date.
Daniel Radcliffe reacted to the photos of the new actors starring in the Harry Potter reboot and shared his and his former costars' feelings about the upcoming TV show
Speaking on behalf of some of his former costars, such as Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, he spoke about their experience with childhood fame and wanting to protect the young stars.
'We have all said, you know, you just see pictures of these kids and you just want to grab them and hug them,' he told People. 'That's the impulse that I think that we, mainly, all have.'
Radcliffe revealed that he has been in touch with Grint and Watson, and the trio have shared their thoughts about the new adaptation series set to be released in seven seasons for each of Rowling's books in the series.
He said he and his former costars have discussed 'how surreal [it is] to watch people starting off on that journey, all those years later.'
He starred in the first movie in the film series at just age 11, playing the same role for a decade, and wrapped the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 when he was 21.
Production for the new series kicked off in July, and seeing photos from the casting process for the HBO reboot was emotional for Radcliffe and his costars.
'It's one of those where I think we all just know how the others feel, because we're also feeling it.'
Radcliffe previously portrayed the titular character in the Harry Potter series for a decade from age 11 until he turned 21. It was recently revealed that production is underway for an HBO TV series reboot, and the first season is slated for release in early 2027
He said seeing the photos of the newcomers puts his own experience 'into perspective.' Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout will star as Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, respectively
Radcliffe said he had recently been in touch with his former costars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. About the child actors taking on their roles, he said he and his costars 'just want to grab them and hug them'; pictured in November 2001
Radcliffe credited his parents for their support during his rapid rise to fame after being casted in the first Harry Potter film at age 11; pictured in August 2000
During the interview, he also reflected on his abrupt rise to fame as a child and the same journey he went on when he was cast in and filmed Harry Potter.
The first installment in the movie series — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the U.S. and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the U.K. and other countries — premiered in late 2001.
'When you're 11, and you're doing something, you're like, "Of course, I'm old enough to do this — I'm the oldest I've ever been."
'But now when I meet 11-year-olds, I am like, "Whoa, that seems nuts." It puts into perspective,' Radcliffe said.
He also credited his parents for supporting him through his quick rise to fame.
'Honestly, it makes me admire — and I do tell them this — but my parents, more than I was capable of doing at the time. Just going like, "Wow, you got me through something crazy, and you did it with a huge amount of humor."'
Radcliffe also spoke about how much has changed since he starred in the movies; he welcomed a son with his longtime girlfriend Erin Darke in April 2023.
When asked about being a parent to a child star and discussing the possibility of his own child following in his shoes, he said he felt in awe and 'so scared' of the responsibility that entails.
As a father himself now — he welcomed a son with his longtime girlfriend Erin Darke in 2023 — he said he feels 'so scared' about with his new perspective on how his own parents 'got [him] through something so crazy'; pictured in June 2024
While production is underway for the new reboot, Radcliffe is supportive of the child stars from afar. The Tony winner will be preparing to return to the Broadway stage and is also currently starring in NBC mockumentary The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins; pictured in May 2024
'It's a big task. I feel like I would be so scared of doing that, if somebody was like, "And now your son's going to be doing stuff." I'd be like, "Oh man, that's a lot to take in."'
While the reboot is in the works, Radcliffe's career has taken a turn as well.
He won a Tony award in 2024 for his role in Merrily We Roll Along after making his debut on Broadway in 2008.
Up next, he will be returning to the Broadway stage for the acclaimed solo play, Every Brilliant Thing, with the official opening night scheduled for March 12.
He is also starring in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, which premiered last month.
In the sitcom, Tracy Morgan stars as a disgraced football player while Radcliffe portrays the unlikely documentarian hired to help him redeem his reputation in the mockumentary.
English (US) ·