Radcliffe Reacts to HBO Harry Potter Series Casting: A Nostalgic Look Ahead
   
The upcoming HBO/Warner Bros. adaptation of the Wizarding World is already shaping up to offer a deeper dive into J.K. Rowling’s saga, with each book mapped to a separate season. The network has announced a fresh batch of cast members, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. They’ll be joined by veteran stars John Lithgow as Professor Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Hagrid, as the project eyes a 2027 premiere.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint were candid about their feelings regarding the new lineup in a People interview ahead of Radcliffe’s own project, The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins. Radcliffe called the moment surreal — watching a new group of actors begin the same journey he once walked — and recalled the immediate impulse to reach out and reassure the young cast. “It’s one of those where I think we all just know how the others feel, because we’re also feeling it,” he explained. “You just see the pictures of these kids, and you just want to grab them and hug them. That’s the impulse that I think that we, mainly, all have.”
The actor also reflected on his younger self, noting that stepping into Hogwarts at age 11 felt very different in hindsight. “When you’re 11, you’re like, ‘Of course I’m old enough to do this — I’m the oldest I’ve ever been,’” he said. “But now when I meet 11-year-olds, I am like, ‘Whoa, that seems nuts.’ It puts it into perspective.”
Radcliffe credited his parents with guiding him through the vast responsibilities of leading a global franchise. “Honestly, it makes me admire — and I do tell them this — my parents were through a lot, but they handled it with humor. They got me through something crazy,” he noted. Still, he doesn’t see himself returning to the role. In 2023 he said he was excited to pass the torch but didn’t think the moment required him to physically hand it over.
Another veteran star who isn’t eager to revisit the Potter universe is David Thewlis, who portrayed Professor Lupin. In a chat with Dexerto, Thewlis said bluntly that he’s “sick of talking about it,” and wouldn’t want to return to the series in that role.
As fans wait for the HBO adaptation to arrive, you can also explore other top new shows of 2026 and the best series of 2025. For more of Dexerto’s interviews with stars, check out ScreenTime’s YouTube channel.