The “Harry Potter” wand has been passed.
Daniel Radcliffe, who played the Boy Who Lived in the original Wizarding World film series, said on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday that he had been in touch with new “Harry Potter” actor Dominic McLaughlin, and no owls are needed.
“I know some people who work on the production, so I wrote to Dominic,” said Radcliffe, who appeared on the morning show to promote his return to Broadway in “Every Brilliant Thing.” “I sent him a letter and he wrote me back a very sweet note.”
The new “Harry Potter” series is currently filming in the United Kingdom. McLaughlin plays the eponymous orphan who learns about his magical heritage after receiving his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout will play Harry's best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively.
Radcliffe said he hopes the young actors “are having a great time” and that seeing their photos made him “just want to hug them.”
“I don't want to be a specter in these kids' lives at all,” Radcliffe said. “I just wanted to write to him and say, 'I hope you have a great time and even better than me. I had a great time, but I hope you have an even better time.'”
Radcliffe starred in all eight films in the first series, from “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” (2001) to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011). Their golden Gryffindor trio included Emma Watson as Hermione, the Muggle-born bookworm, and Rupert Grint as the loyal but sometimes callous Ron.
Written and produced by Francesca Gardiner, the new HBO series “Harry Potter” has been announced as “a faithful adaptation” of the popular seven-book series by author JK Rowling, who serves as executive producer. Several episodes will be directed by executive producer Mark Mylod.
The cast of the new show includes returning “Harry Potter” actor Warwick Davis, who will reprise his role as Professor Filius Flitwick. Joining him on the Hogwarts staff are John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore); Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid); Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape); Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall); Sirine Saba (Pomona bud); Richard Durden (Cuthbert Binns); Bríd Brennan (Poppy Pomfrey); Luke Thallon (Quirinus Quirrell); and Paul Whitehouse (Argus Filch).
