Finn Wolfhard told Daniel Radcliffe knew about SNL’s 'Harry Potter' and 'Heated Rivalry' before it aired

Wolfhard texted Radcliffe a day before it aired: 'Hey, just so you know, we’re doing a Harry Potter sketch'

Daniel Radcliffe got a sneak peek at Saturday Night Live’s playful Heated Wizardry sketch before it aired, thanks to Finn Wolfhard.

The former Harry Potter star told Rolling Stone that Wolfhard, who portrayed Harry Potter in the parody, texted him the day before the sketch debuted on SNL’s first 2026 episode. “Weirdly, I had met Finn a few weeks before, randomly, and we chatted for a bit,” Radcliffe explained. “And then he texted me the day before it aired, being like, ‘Hey, just so you know, we’re doing a Harry Potter sketch.’”

The sketch cleverly mashed up the wizarding world with the hit gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry. Wolfhard played Harry Potter, while Ben Marshall took on Ron Weasley. In this twist, their Hogwarts Quidditch rivalry turns into a behind-the-scenes romance, a clear nod to Heated Rivalry’s signature dramatic flair.

A voiceover at the start of the sketch teased the concept: “Coming soon to HBO, the beloved wizarding world of Harry Potter makes its television debut… With an all new story hastily written after the success of a certain other HBO show…”

Although Radcliffe hasn’t watched Heated Rivalry himself, he’s “very aware” of the show’s buzz, joking that his girlfriend is a huge fan. Still, he thoroughly enjoyed the sketch. “I’m sure there are jokes I was missing, but it was very funny and sweet,” he said. “I’m always happy to see other versions of that. It makes me laugh.”

Radcliffe’s response highlights his sense of humor about his iconic role and shows his appreciation for pop culture parodies that creatively blend beloved franchises with contemporary hits.