Daniel Radcliffe says he’s excited to see a new generation take over the world of Harry Potter as the franchise prepares for its upcoming television reboot.
The actor, who played the famous wizard throughout the original film series, shared his thoughts during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Radcliffe said he’s looking forward to watching the new series one day with his young son.
This time around, the role of Harry Potter will be played by Dominic McLaughlin. For Radcliffe, the idea that his child will experience the story through someone else’s performance feels like a positive change.
“I’m genuinely thrilled that when my kid grows up and gets into Harry Potter, he can watch a version that doesn’t feature me,” Radcliffe said.
He joked that seeing his own father play the lead role might have made the experience a little less immersive for a child.
“I think watching it with your dad in the lead role might be a bit uncool,” he added. “It could pull you out of the experience.”
Radcliffe also said the reboot will give him a chance to step back from the constant questions about the franchise that have followed him for years.
“So it’s wonderful, and it means that eventually someone else will field all those Harry Potter questions,” he said. “I can happily pass that torch.”
The actor compared the recasting to other long-running characters who have been played by multiple actors over time.
“We’ve seen three different Spider-Men in my lifetime,” Radcliffe said. “If you look at someone like Sherlock Holmes, there have always been different interpretations. So I’m really pleased to see it handed over to someone new, and I wish them all the best.”
Radcliffe recently became a father with longtime partner Erin Darke. The couple welcomed their son in 2023, though they have chosen to keep the child’s name private.
