The people whose feelings on the new Harry Potter TV show fans are likely the most eager to hear about have been talking with each other as the project moves ahead.
HBO Max’s Harry Potter TV series, a reboot of the movie franchise and J.K. Rowling’s seminal fantasy book series, is expected sometime in 2027. Though the format will allow the books to be adapted much more faithfully, in much greater detail, the movies are still beloved. While fans have complicated feelings about the reboot, everyone has been asking the old cast what they think.
In a new interview with PEOPLE, Daniel Radcliffe, who stars in the brand-new NBC comedy The Fall & Rise of Reggie Dinkins, says he and Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have been in touch to talk about “how surreal [it is] to watch people starting off on that journey, all those years later.” While they haven’t had “a ton of communication about the show specifically,” they agree on this.
“It’s one of those where I think we all just know how the others feel, because we’re also feeling it,” said Radcliffe. “You just see the pictures of these kids, and you just want to grab them and hug them. That’s the impulse that I think that we, mainly, all have.” Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson’s iconic roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger are now being played by Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton, respectively.
Radcliffe also shared how being an adult looking back on Harry Potter makes him see what the new actors have taken on very differently. He went on to say: “When you’re 11, and you’re doing something, you’re like, ‘Of course I’m old enough to do this — I’m the oldest I’ve ever been.’ But now when I meet 11-year-olds, I am like, ‘Whoa, that seems nuts.’ It puts into perspective.“
“Honestly, it makes me admire – and I do tell them this, but my parents — more than I was capable of doing at the time. Just going like, ‘Wow, you got me through something crazy, and you did it with a huge amount of humor,’ yeah, it’s a big task.” Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson all essentially grew up on the Harry Potter set, being cast as children and sticking with the franchise over the next 10 years.
HBO seems to be hoping to repeat this feat, with plans to adapt one book per season of the show. In addition to the roster of young stars, the reboot’s veteran cast includes John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Warwick Davis, and many more. Francisca Gardiner, known for Succession, Killing Eve, and His Dark Materials, is attached as the showrunner.
The Harry Potter and spinoff Fantastic Beasts movies have grossed $9.5 billion to date, and the IP remains a cultural powerhouse despite ongoing controversy surrounding the creator. The Golden Trio, especially Watson and Radcliffe, has reportedly had a strained relationship with J.K. Rowling since 2020 due to them opposing the author’s anti-trans views.
While its popularity has endured, Harry Potter‘s status in the zeitgeist has certainly changed since these actors wrapped production on the last movie. As the fanbase grapples with this, the people who lived and breathed Harry Potter for such a long time understandably have a different perspective on all of it as a new generation sets out to bring these roles to life once again.
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
Be the first to comment on this article!