Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in all eight films, says he doesn’t know whether he’ll watch HBO’s TV adaptation. As IGN reports, the actor gave the answer to the Associated Press when asked if the series is on his watchlist. The first season premieres on HBO on 25 December.
Deadline reports that Radcliffe was speaking at the New York premiere of Netflix’s animated film Steps. “I don’t know if I will [watch], honestly,” he said, adding that he’s already been in a lot of Harry Potter and doesn’t watch any TV. He listed Breaking Bad and Mad Men among the classics he hasn’t seen, and concluded that eight hours is a lot of anything to watch.
The comment reads as a scheduling issue rather than a protest. The A.V. Club describes it as politely noncommittal, and Radcliffe has been warm towards the new cast throughout. He wrote a letter to Dominic McLaughlin, who plays Harry, after the casting was announced. Variety reports that McLaughlin later called the support “insane”.
He’s also keeping his distance from the production’s young star. Radcliffe told the AP he has no advice for McLaughlin, because anything he says would resurface in the next round of interviews. “I don’t want to haunt this poor child through interviews,” he said. That echoes his earlier plea that the press stop asking the new actors about the original trio. We covered a separate Radcliffe remark about Andrew Garfield’s Potter praise recently.
His position has shifted over time. IGN notes that in 2012 he was dismissive of a possible remake, saying remakes often make unnecessary changes for the sake of being different. He hasn’t repeated that scepticism about the HBO series.
HBO plans to adapt one book per season, so the first season covers Philosopher’s Stone. The network has already renewed the show for Season 2, which will adapt Chamber of Secrets. If you want a look at what Radcliffe may be skipping, the official trailer shows Quidditch, Snape and the Sorting Hat.
When does HBO’s Harry Potter series premiere?
IGN and Deadline both report that the first season launches on HBO on 25 December 2026. Neither covers UAE or wider regional availability, so check with your local provider closer to the date.
Is Daniel Radcliffe involved in the HBO series?
No. He has backed the cast publicly and wrote a letter to Dominic McLaughlin, but he says he isn’t advising him and may not watch the show.
What is Radcliffe working on now?
He voices the prince in the animated film Steps. Deadline reports that the film had its world premiere in New York on 8 November.
