Back in April, it was revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery is hoping to capitalize on the “Harry Potter” brand with a new reboot of the film series. This time, instead of adapting each of J.K. Rowling’s novels into a new feature film, the studio is going to take each novel and adapt it into a season of TV. More hours is more better, right? But if you’re hoping to see the films’ Harry Potter, aka Daniel Radcliffe, show up in the new reboot series, you’re going to be disappointed.
READ MORE: ‘Harry Potter’ Series Reboot Reportedly In The Works At HBO
In a new interview with Comicbook.com, Daniel Radcliffe was asked if he expected to be a part of the new “Harry Potter” series that will eventually make its way to Max in the future. Obviously, he wouldn’t be able to play the title character, given he’s 20 years too old for such a thing, but perhaps we could see Radcliffe show up as an older character in some sort of cameo? Well, it would appear that he’s not really interested in going back to the Wizarding World.
“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Radcliffe said. “So I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world, and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”
It’s not so much of a surprise to see Radcliffe not really want to be part of the new “Harry Potter” TV series. The actor has done quite a bit of work over the years to distance himself from that role, as it is what defined a large portion of his career. Not only that, he’s publicly spoken out against Rowling, who has posted quite a number of transphobic things on social media. So, perhaps, Radcliffe isn’t so keen to go back to the franchise that still benefits Rowling. That’s obviously speculation, but something to think about nonetheless.
Regardless, it would be in the series’ best interest to move on completely from what has come before. If WBD wants to make a new “Harry Potter” series for a new generation, the studio shouldn’t bother to weigh itself down with self-referential cameos and legacy casting.
It’s still way too early to know when the new “Harry Potter” series will eventually show up on Max.
