Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who brought Harry Potter to life in the iconic film series, has shared his thoughts on the upcoming Harry Potter reboot series. Speaking with ET’s Rachel Smith at the 2024 Tony Awards, Radcliffe, who attended as a nominee and later won his first Tony for his role in “Merrily We Roll Along,” offered some advice for the new team taking on the magical world of Hogwarts.
Radcliffe, now 34, reflected on his own experience playing the titular character in the eight films released by Warner Bros. between 2003 and 2011. While he isn’t sure what specific advice he would give to the new cast members, he emphasized the importance of allowing the young actors to enjoy their childhood. “I’ve got advice for everyone else,” Radcliffe joked. “Just let them be kids still. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to do that in the age of social media. We were kind of a little bit before that.
Radcliffe expressed his hope to eventually meet the new actors who will step into the roles that defined a generation. “I don’t know. Hopefully, I will meet whoever that person is one day and I’ll be face to face,” he told ET.
In a previous conversation with ET in July, Radcliffe shared his thoughts on the reboot series. While he is happy to see the story continue, he does not foresee himself being involved in the new project. “I doubt very much that they will,” he said about the possibility of making an appearance in the show. “It seems to me that they are wanting to make a fresh series, which it feels like it’d be distracting to have old, haggard Harry also entering from stage left.”
Radcliffe made it clear that he is not seeking a role in the reboot but is very supportive of the series moving forward. Back in April 2023, HBO and Max officials announced that a television series inspired by J.K. Rowling’s best-selling books was in the works, 12 years after the original film series concluded.
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content, expressed excitement about the new series. “We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way,” Bloys said. “Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World. In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.”
Radcliffe, who is currently focused on his Tony-nominated musical, shared his excitement and nerves about the awards night. On Sunday, he won the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. “It’s very exciting, you know, I was very calm earlier and now I’m very not calm,” he shared. “It’s a big night….it’s nerve-racking and exciting.”
As the Harry Potter reboot series moves forward, fans can look forward to a new generation of actors bringing the beloved characters to life. While Radcliffe may not be returning to Hogwarts, his legacy as the Boy Who Lived will undoubtedly continue to inspire both the new cast and the millions of fans who grew up with the magical world of Harry Potter.
