Daniel Radcliffe is sharing his thoughts on the newest chapter of the Harry Potter universe — and more specifically, on the young actor stepping into the legendary role he first brought to life over two decades ago.
The actor appeared on GMA on Tuesday (November 18), where he revealed that he privately reached out to Dominic McLaughlin, the newcomer leading HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. For Radcliffe, who grew up on the set of the original film franchise, seeing a brand-new generation take on the story is both surreal and touching.
“I wouldn’t say that anyone who is going to play Harry has to [reach out to me], but I know a few people working on the production,” Daniel said. “I wrote to Dominic and sent him a letter and he sent me a very sweet note back.”
What Radcliffe wanted most was to offer encouragement — not pressure. After all, stepping into one of the most recognizable roles on the planet can be overwhelming, especially at such a young age.
He continued, “I don’t want to be a specter in the life of these children but 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.’ And I do, I just see these pictures of him and the other kids and I just want to hug them. They just seem so young. 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.”
Radcliffe’s reflections highlight a unique full-circle moment. Fans grew up watching him navigate the wizarding world on-screen, but off-screen, he was just a child navigating instant fame. Now, the franchise is being reimagined for a new generation — and he’s watching young actors experience the same whirlwind he once did.
The HBO series, still in early production, is expected to follow the books more closely and span multiple seasons. That means Dominic McLaughlin, along with the rest of the cast, may be stepping into a long-term commitment that could shape their early careers the same way it shaped Radcliffe’s.
