Daniel Radcliffe Is Reportedly ‘Excited’ for the Harry Potter TV Show: Here’s What to Know

Grab your robes and hop on your broomsticks because, fellow witches and wizards, we are all set to head back to Hogwarts in 2026, but not with the original Harry Potter cast. The popular streaming service Max recently announced that they would be remaking the beloved 8-movie franchise into a television show, much to many people's dismay. We dive deep into what there is to know about the new show and what stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint think below. 

All about the ‘Harry Potter’ TV show

Originally announced in April 2023, the Harry Potter TV remake received considerable backlash because of how relatively little time had passed between it and the conclusion of the original film series in 2011, as well as the controversy surrounding the book's author, J.K. Rowling. 

Rowling famously tweeted some homophobic statements back in 2020, and since then, people have been quick to call out the books and movies for being insensitive about race, class and culture. A prominent example is the book-only Asian character Cho Chang, who was placed in the “smart house” Ravenclaw, allowing the outdated rhetoric that all Asians have to be smart with traditional names. 

The original novels have also been accused of glorifying slavery, as demonstrated by the House Elves, and allowed people who used derogatory terms such as “Mudbloods” to be redeemed. There’s also beena call-out for the lack of LGBTQIA+ characters in the novels. 

People working in the new adaptation are looking to fight this narrative, writing in their casting call, “We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”

The show is currently casting for its three leads—Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger—and it's anticipated to release sometime in 2026. 

How does the original ‘Harry Potter’ cast feel about the remake? 

After the TV show's announcement, many people wondered how the original cast members felt about it. 

Daniel Radcliffe—who played Harry Potter in the original films—is particularly pleased, saying, “I’m excited for it as a viewer. I’ll be able to enjoy it with everyone else, possibly with a slightly different perspective.” 

“It’s a nice thing that a whole new generation is going to get introduced to the stories in a new way. They’ll see it as a TV series, so they’ll probably have time to go into all the things. So, hopefully, the people that were angry about things cut from the [novels for the] films will finally be able to see the full version they wanted.” 

However, Grint did say in a separate interview that he has no plans to be in the remake, saying, ‘I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them 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 pass it physically.” 

The franchise’s original Ronald “Ron” Weasley, Rupert Grint, also commented on a potential remake, but this was back in 2021 before the TV show was announced. 

“It’ll be weird if it was a continuation kind of thing,” Grint said. “I weirdly feel quite protective of that character. Even when I saw the stage shows, it was a very strange experience.  If it’s like a different group of friends, I guess it would be interesting.”

Emma Watson has yet to comment publicly on how she feels about someone taking over the role of Hermione Granger, but back when they were working on the film’s fifth entry, Order of The Phoenix, Watson almost left the project but decided that it would be too weird to see someone else in the role. 

Will J.K. Rowling be involved in the ‘Harry Potter’ TV show?

Despite the controversy surrounding the best-selling author, Rowling is set to be involved with the series, according to Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content Casey Bloys, who confirmed that Rowling is an executive producer on the show. “Her insights are going to be helpful on that,” he said.

Rowling also offered thoughts on the project, saying in a rare statement, “Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation, which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series.” 

It remains unclear if Rowling’s involvement in the show will affect funding, casting or viewership, and the author has yet to comment on how she feels about the show taking on a much more modern casting approach.

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