Daniel Radcliffe Gets Paternal: The Original Harry Reacts to HBO’s New Young Trio
The Boy Who Lived has some distinctly fatherly feelings about the kids who are about to live it all over again. Daniel Radcliffe has been reflecting on what it’s like to watch a brand-new generation step into the roles that defined his own childhood — and the sight, he admits, is stirring up something unexpectedly parental.
Speaking on Backstage’s In the Envelope podcast, Radcliffe said that catching sight of the three young leads beginning their own journey is surreal and strange, and that it “provokes very paternal feelings” in him — even though he’s never met them. He described the instinct he and Emma Watson have talked about sharing: to reach through the screen, wrap the kids in a hug, and make sure they’re doing OK and having a great time.
The feeling is rooted in experience. Radcliffe was 11 — the same age as new lead Dominic McLaughlin — when he was first cast back in 2000. McLaughlin headlines HBO’s series alongside Arabella Stanton as Hermione and Alastair Stout as Ron. Radcliffe has previously shared that he wrote McLaughlin a letter wishing him an even better time than he had himself.
HBO’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres Christmas Day, December 25, 2026, with each of J.K. Rowling’s seven books planned as its own season.
Does it warm your heart to hear the original Harry rooting for the new one? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to follow along for the latest Harry Potter news.
Source: Backstage
