Why Daniel Radcliffe says he doesn’t want his son to know he was ‘Harry Potter’ yet

Daniel Radcliffe says he wants his son to see the new ‘Harry Potter’ series rather than his own films

Daniel Radcliffe has offered a revealing take on how he wants his young son to perceive the story that defined his early career, saying he hopes the child doesn’t grow up watching him as Harry Potter, at least not at first. The actor, who starred as the titular wizard in all eight Harry Potter films, spoke candidly about his relationship with the franchise while discussing the upcoming HBO adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved books.

Radcliffe explained that he would likely show his child the new Harry Potter series, now set for release with a fresh cast in 2027, instead of the original films in which he starred. He said he wants his son to enjoy the magical world without necessarily associating it with his own performances. “I’ll probably show my kid that so he doesn’t have to watch me,” Radcliffe told, adding that he would enjoy watching the reboot alongside his child more.

The actor also acknowledged that he rarely revisits his own work from the Harry Potter movies. Radcliffe noted that he hasn’t watched the films from start to finish since their premieres and generally avoids watching his past performances because he finds it uncomfortable. Reflecting on his feelings about seeing his younger self on screen, he said that distance from the experience has given him perspective and that the idea of watching the movies again now is “more fun” when it doesn’t centre on him.

Radcliffe’s comments come at a time when his legacy as Harry Potter is still resonating worldwide and a television reboot brought to HBO Max is poised to introduce the story to a whole new generation. With a cast of newcomers stepping into the roles, he has urged fans and the press to allow the young actors space to grow into their parts without constant comparison to the original stars.