As HBO officially greenlights its "Harry Potter" series reboot, original film star Daniel Radcliffe, who famously portrayed Harry, is demonstrating his support as a veteran of the franchise. During a recent appearance on "Good Morning America," Radcliffe revealed he personally penned a letter to the new child lead, Dominic McLaughlin, and received a "very sweet note" in return, a gesture fans are calling heartwarming.
Radcliffe starred as the titular character in eight "Harry Potter" films starting in 2001, solidifying his portrayal as an iconic figure for many fans. Now, the new HBO series adaptation sees McLaughlin taking over the role of Harry, alongside Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Discussing his decision to reach out to the new actors, Radcliffe explained that he didn't feel the incoming Harry had an obligation to contact him. However, knowing some of the crew members involved, he wanted to extend his well wishes personally.
"I wrote to Dominic, and he sent me a very sweet note back," Radcliffe shared. "I didn't want to cast a shadow over their lives, I just wanted to say, 'I hope you have the best time, and I hope you have even more fun than I did.'"
Radcliffe also admitted that seeing photos of the new cast evoked a surge of emotion. "I see these kids, and I just have an urge to hug them," he said. "They look so young. I think, 'Oh my God, I was doing this when I was that young.' But it's all very sweet, and I genuinely hope they enjoy the experience."
With the production expected to span nearly a decade, adapting one novel per season, the BBC previously reported that Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden even constructed a temporary school on set to help the young stars balance their studies during the extensive filming schedule.
The rebooted "Harry Potter" series is slated to premiere on HBO Max in 2027.