At a time in Hollywood’s history when reprising career-defining roles is all the rage, Harry Potter franchise star Daniel Radcliffe says he has no interest in returning to the Wizarding World for Max‘s forthcoming Harry Potter TV series. The series is said to be a 10-year endeavor featuring an all-new cast for an in-depth exploration of the fantasy novel series created by J.K. Rowling. Sources close to the project say it could be years before the show premieres, with a 2025/2026 window being likely.
Despite being proud of his years as Harry Potter, Radcliffe has worked very hard to separate himself from the role in the years since the conclusion of the original film series. After playing the “Boy That Lived,” Radcliffe redefined his Hollywood status with unique roles in films like Guns Akimbo, Swiss Army Man, The Woman in Black, Victor Frankenstein, and The Lost City. Speaking with Comicbook.com, Radcliffe says he’s “definitely not seeking” a role in Max’s new Harry Potter TV series.
“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 told ComicBook.com. “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.”
“This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years,” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content, about the project at a Max streaming event in April. Bloys also says the show’s epic timeline allows for a more in-depth exploration of Rowling’s timeless source material, giving Harry Potter fans of all kinds a reason to get excited about the new project.
What do you think about Max investing in a 10-year plan for a new Harry Potter TV series? Is Radcliffe making an intelligent decision by distancing himself from the project? Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments below.