Daniel Radcliffe Backs HBO’s New Harry Potter Star

Daniel Radcliffe has given his blessing to the next Boy Who Lived. As HBO prepares to relaunch Harry Potter for a new generation, the original screen Harry is publicly backing 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, who will lead the upcoming television adaptation.

The reboot has divided fans, but Radcliffe’s message is clear: give the new cast room to grow. And he’s confident McLaughlin will do more than just fill his shoes.

“I’m Sure Dominic Is Going to Be Better Than Me”

In a recent interview, Radcliffe said he believes McLaughlin will surpass his own performance. “I’m sure Dominic is going to be better than me,” he said, reflecting on how he was still learning on the job throughout much of the original eight-film run.

Radcliffe began playing Harry in 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and grew up on screen as the series concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Looking back, he admits he views his early performances with more kindness now—but also recognizes how much he was figuring out in real time.

The new HBO series aims to adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven novels across seven seasons, offering what many readers hope will be a more faithful, long-form take on the books. Production is underway, with a planned 2027 debut, as previously reported when HBO’s Harry Potter series targeted an early 2027 premiere.

A Plea to Fans: Let the New Cast Shine

Radcliffe also had a request for fans and media outlets. If people truly want to protect the young actors stepping into these iconic roles, he suggested, one simple step would help: stop constantly comparing them to the original trio.

He asked that interviewers ease up on questions about him, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, and instead allow the new performers to put their own stamp on the material. Grint famously played Ron Weasley, while Watson brought Hermione Granger to life across the blockbuster franchise.

Dominic McLaughlin will be joined by Alastair Stout as Ron and Arabella Stanton as Hermione. The casting announcement sparked intense online debate, part of a wider conversation that has followed the reboot since its reveal. Even the choice of Dumbledore has drawn headlines, with John Lithgow breaking his silence on playing Dumbledore amid the broader discussion.

Radcliffe has made it clear he does not expect to appear in the new series. He has described the idea of an older version of himself popping in as potentially distracting and says the focus should remain firmly on the new generation.

For readers who grew up waiting for midnight book releases, this passing of the wand feels momentous. Radcliffe’s endorsement may not quiet every critic, but it does offer something powerful: a sense of continuity. One Harry Potter is cheering on the next—and inviting fans to do the same.