Daniel Radcliffe writes supportive letter to Harry Potter successor in new TV series
"Have an even better time than I did," the original Harry tells 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin
If you're 11 and about to carry Hogwarts on your shoulders, a note from Daniel Radcliffe (movies and tv series) probably helps you breathe. That's what happened for Dominic McLaughlin (movies and tv series), the young actor set to play Harry Potter in HBO's upcoming series.
Radcliffe said on Good Morning America that he'd reached out directly. "I wouldn't say that anyone who is going to play Harry has to [call me]," he said. "I wrote to Dominic and I sent him a letter and he sent me a very sweet note back."
And then the part that stuck with me: "I do not want to be a spectre in the lives of these children," Radcliffe explained. He told McLaughlin, "I hope you have the best time, and an even better time than I did." He added that when he sees photos of the new cast, he just wants to hug them - they look so young (movies and tv series), and it's wild to remember he once stood where they are now.
Radcliffe's keeping his distance from the production itself. He's been open about that. In 2024, he told E! that the team behind the show wants a clean break - and he agrees that makes sense for a fresh start. You can read that comment here: E! Online.
As for the cast, McLaughlin leads a young trio with Arabella Stanton (movies and tv series) as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout (movies and tv series) as Ron Weasley, picked after an open call. The adult lineup is stacked too: John Lithgow (movies and tv series) as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu (movies and tv series) as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer (movies and tv series) as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost (movies and tv series) as Rubeus Hagrid.
Here's the broader plan. HBO says the series will be a faithful take on J.K. Rowling (movies and tv series)'s books, with Rowling on board as an executive producer. It's slated to premiere in 2027, with HBO chief Casey Bloys saying the goal is to run for "10 consecutive years" - an audacious timeline that echoes the original film era. More on that long-term rollout: Deadline.
Look, remakes and reboots usually try to outrun the past. This one isn't pretending the past isn't there - it's asking a new generation to grow up with it. And Radcliffe's letter says the quiet part out loud: this is huge, it can be heavy, but it should still be fun. That's the compass you want if you're 11 and about to walk into the Great Hall for the first time.
For folks covering TV, there's a playbook unfolding here: keep legacy stars supportive but separate, cast early for longevity, and set clear expectations on scope and time. It's a big bet - a decade-long drumbeat - and all eyes will be on whether the magic holds week to week, not just at launch.
