Daniel Radcliffe, the original Harry Potter, has reached out to 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, who will play the iconic wizard in HBO's upcoming TV series. In an interview on Good Morning America, Radcliffe shared details of the letter he sent, wishing McLaughlin an even better experience than his own. He expressed affection for the young cast, noting how young they appear.
Radcliffe's Message to the New Generation
Daniel Radcliffe revealed during his appearance on ABC's Good Morning America on November 19, 2025, that he wrote a personal letter to Dominic McLaughlin shortly after the young actor was cast as Harry Potter in HBO's rebooted series. Radcliffe, who portrayed the character from age 11 through the eight-film franchise spanning 2001 to 2011, aimed to offer encouragement without overshadowing the newcomers. "I wrote to Dominic. I sent him a letter, and he sent me a very sweet note back," Radcliffe said. "I just wanted to write to him 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.'"
Reflections on Youth and the Role
Radcliffe marveled at the youth of the new cast, including McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. "I just see these pictures of him and the other kids, and I just want to hug them. They just seem so young," he added. "I just look at them and say, '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." He emphasized his desire not to intrude, stating, "I do not want to be a spectre in the lives of these children."
The casting was announced in May 2025 following an open call that drew over 30,000 auditions. The ensemble also features John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Production began in July 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the U.K., with the series planned as a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling's seven books, spanning 10 years with one season per book. The debut is slated for 2027 on HBO and Max.
Context and Distance from the Project
Radcliffe has maintained distance from the series due to his public fallout with author J.K. Rowling over trans rights issues. In 2024, he told E! Online that producers wisely sought a "clean break," and he has no plans for involvement. Despite this, his gesture highlights a supportive nod to the franchise's future.