HBO is rebooting Harry Potter for streaming, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone set to premiere this Christmas. The show will likely break all manner of viewership records, but there's one person who won't be tuning in: Daniel Radcliffe.
In an interview with Associated Press, Radcliffe admitted that he won't be rushing to watch Season 1. However, that's because he's not much of a TV viewer, admitting that there are still many classics he needs to catch up on.
"I don’t know if I will [watch], honestly," Radcliffe, who played the Boy Wizard in eight movies between 2001 and 2011, said. "I’ve watched, I’ve been in a lot of Harry Potter already, and also I don’t watch any TV."
"I haven’t seen Breaking Bad. I haven’t seen Mad Men," the actor continued. "I haven’t seen some of the like the real classics. So, you know, eight hours is a lot of anything to watch."
Radcliffe was also asked again whether he has any advice for his successor, Dominic McLaughlin. The big screen Harry Potter has previously reached out to the child actor to share some well wishes, but doesn't believe McLaughlin needs any tips from him.
"I’m really truly in the business of not giving Dominic advice. He’s got it. He doesn’t need any advice from me. If I say something to you, then the next interview people have with him, they’ll be like, 'Oh, and Dan said you should do this,' and I’m like, 'I don’t want to haunt this poor child through interviews.'"
Radcliffe continued, "So I have no advice for him. He’s going to be amazing, and you know, I hope that I will, I think I will, get to meet him someday — and I’m very excited about that."
Radcliffe is clearly content to let a new generation take ownership of the Harry Potter franchise, and his reluctance to offer McLaughlin advice is a classy move. The actor clearly has fond memories of his time at Hogwarts, but having long moved on from the role, he's ready to see someone else step into the role that defined his career.
There is nothing special about Harry Potter - at least that's what his Aunt Petunia always says. On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past.
The main cast of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.
The series, based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, is written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive-produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive-produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO Max on December 25.