Daniel Radcliffe is sharing a heartfelt moment he recently had with the young actor stepping into the role that defined his own childhood.
During an appearance on Good Morning America on Nov. 18, Radcliffe opened up about writing a letter to 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, the new Harry Potter in the upcoming TV adaptation.
When asked whether the next Harry should reach out to him, Radcliffe made it clear he doesn’t expect anything from the new cast.
But because he already knew a few people involved behind the scenes, he decided to send McLaughlin a personal message anyway. He said he wrote to Dominic and received “a very sweet note back.”
Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry from 2001 to 2011 across eight films, explained that he doesn’t want his presence to overshadow the young stars taking over the iconic trio.
He said he doesn’t want to be “a specter in the light of these children,” which includes McLaughlin, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
What he did want, however, was to wish Dominic well as he begins filming.
Radcliffe shared the exact message he sent “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.’”
Looking at early photos of the new cast, Radcliffe admitted he feels protective, saying he just wants to “hug them” because they seem so young.
Reflecting on seeing kids step into the world he once led, he said it’s both “crazy” and “incredibly sweet,” and he genuinely hopes they’re enjoying the experience.
The HBO series began production in July and is slated for a 2027 premiere.
Each of J.K. Rowling's seven books will be adapted into its own season, introducing new faces like John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy.
Warwick Davis will return as Professor Flitwick, adding a touch of familiarity for longtime fans.
Radcliffe has already confirmed he won’t be appearing in the series, but earlier shared that he’s “very excited to watch as an audience member.”