Radcliffe Connects with Potter Co-Stars Amid Controversy

Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he's been in touch with hisco-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint to reflect on the upcoming TV adaptation of the series.

The actor, 36, famously played the titular boy wizard from 2001 to 2011 in the films, alongside Rupert, 37, and Emma, 35, as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

And in the lead up to the release of the HBO series based on the books, Daniel said the trio have reflected on 'how surreal [it is] to watch people starting off on that journey, all those years later.'

The TV show will see Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, while Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermione and Alastair Stout will portray Ron.

Daniel explained that while he, Rupert and Emma hadn't had 'a ton of communication about the show specifically', they all were experiencing the same feelings of nostalgia and protectiveness towards the new young cast.

He told PEOPLE: 'It's one of those where I think we all just know how the others feel, because we're also feeling it.

Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he's been in touch with his Harry Potter co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint to reflect on the upcoming TV adaptation of the series (seen together in 2011)

The actor, 36, famously played the titular boy wizard from 2001 to 2011 in the films, alongside Rupert, 37, and Emma, 35, as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (seen in first film in 2000)

The TV show will see Dominic McLaughlin (middle) as Harry, while Arabella Stanton (left) is set to play Hermione and Alastair Stout (right) will portray Ron

'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.'

Daniel, who was 11 in the first Harry Potter film, added that seeing Dominic, Arabella and Alastair stepping into the iconic roles had caused him to view his own experience with fresh eyes, allowing him to realise just how young he was.

'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,"' he said. 'But now when I meet 11-year-olds, I am like, "Whoa, that seems nuts." It puts into perspective.'

Now a father to a two-year-old son with his partner Erin Darke, he said it gives him a new appreciation for his own parents, for getting him through such a wild time.

He said: '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.'

The Woman in Black star previously revealed how he sweetly 'passed on the torch' to Dominic, by writing him a sweet letter of support.

Daniel explained that he didn't want 'to be a spectre in the light of these children', but was keen to wish him 'the best time' taking on the role of The Boy Who Lived.

Speaking on Good Morning America in November, he said: 'I wouldn’t say that anyone who is going to play Harry has to [reach out]. I know a few people who are working on the production, so I wrote to Dominic and I sent him a letter and he sent me a very sweet note back.

The Woman in Black star previously revealed how he sweetly 'passed on the torch' to Dominic (seen), by writing him a sweet letter of support

'I just wanted to write to him to say, "I hope you have the best time, and an even better time than I did - I had a great time, but I hope you have an even better time." And I do.'

While Dominic opened up on his excitement over receiving a letter from 'the man himself', revealing he'd been on the train back home to Glasgow at the time and declaring it 'was insane'.

'My dad just tapped me on the train and he just gave me this letter,' he recalled. 'I read it and then I got to the bottom, and it said, ‘Dan R.’ I was going mad, but I had to keep it [cool]. I was on the train.'

However, the upcoming HBO adaptation has been marred by controversy due to creator JK Rowling's resounding opposition to transgender rights, which has seen her branded a trans-exclusionary radical feminism (TERF) and sparked backlash.

The author has emerged as a prominent campaigner against trans rights, claiming that trans women are men pretending to be women to invade “biological woman” spaces and stating she'd rather go to prison than use a trans person's pronouns.

While her rhetoric has escalated to target other parts of the LGBTQ+ community, including non-binary people and general queer identities, and falsely accusing cisgender female Olympian Imane Khelif of being 'male'.

In the wake of her controversial remarks, a host of Harry Potter stars have distanced themselves from the writer, with many speaking out in support of trans rights.

In 2020, Daniel released a statement through The Trevor Project, saying despite his personal relationship with JK, he felt compelled to make a statement for the sake of fans whose experience of the books was negatively impacted by her comments

In the wake of her controversial remarks, a host of Harry Potter stars have distanced themselves from the writer, with many speaking out in support of trans rights (Daniel, Ruper, JK and Emma pictured in 2004)

He wrote: 'To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you.'

'Transgender women are women', he added. 'Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.

'While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honoured to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment.'

In 2024, Daniel revealed he has had no direct contact with JK since the controversy, explaining he and other cast members have spoken out in order to show that the author's opinions were not shared by everyone within the Harry Potter universe.

He said: 'It makes me really sad, ultimately, because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.'

Meanwhile, Rupert has also spoken up, telling the Times in 2020: 'I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers.

'Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgement.'

In March the following year, he explained his decision to voice his opposition to Rowling's comments saying that while he has 'huge respect' for the author, he can still disagree with her views.

Emma has been perhaps the most vocal in her condemnation of JK's views, however the author hit back at in September, after the actress said that despite their differences of opinion, she 'still treasures' her (seen in 2011)

Speaking to Esquire, he added: 'I am hugely grateful [for] everything that she's done. I think that she's extremely talented, and I mean, clearly, her works are genius.'

Elaborating on his reasoning, he added: 'I think also you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that.

'Sometimes silence is even louder. I felt like I had to because I think it was important to. I mean, I don't want to talk about all that… Generally, I'm not an authority on the subject.

'Just out of kindness and just respecting people. I think it's a valuable group that I think needs standing up for.'

And Emma has been perhaps the most vocal in her condemnation of JK's views.

She previously posted on social media: 'Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are.

'I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.'

However, in September JK hit back at the actress in a lengthy rebuttal after Emma said that despite their differences of opinion, she 'still treasures' the author.

Other Harry Potter stars that have spoken out amid the ongoing divide, include Harry Melling, (left) Bonnie Wright (right) and Eddie Redmayne

In a podcast, the star said: 'I think it's my deepest wish that I hope people who don't agree with my opinion will love me and I hope I can keep loving people who I don't necessarily share the same opinion with.'

However, an enraged JK hit back on X, suggesting Emma's views on trans rights were due to her lack of experience of 'real life' and that she had 'poured more petrol on the flames' of the abuse she had suffered.

She went on to claim that Emma's admission that she still 'treasures' her was a cynical attempt to shift her stance after realising 'full-throated condemnation of me is not as fashionable as it once was'.

JK has vowed to 'never forgive' Daniel, Emma or Rupert for having 'cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'.

Other Harry Potter stars that have spoken out amid the ongoing divide, include Harry Melling, Bonnie Wright and Eddie Redmayne.

Bonnie, who plays Ginny Weasley, tweeted: 'If Harry Potter was a source of love and belonging for you, that love is infinite and there to take without judgment or question. Transwomen are Women. I see and love you, Bonnie x'.

While Dudley Dursley actor Harry said in an interview: 'I can only speak for myself, and what I feel, to me, is very simple, which is that transgender women are women and transgender men are men.'

Oscar winner Eddie – who starred in the Fantastic Beasts franchise - issued a message to Variety that said: 'As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand.

Oscar winner Eddie – who starred in the Fantastic Beasts franchise - issued a message to Variety that said: 'I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid' (seen in 2024)

Stephen Fry - who narrated the Harry Potter audiobooks - has also distanced himself from JK, saying: 'She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people' (seen in December)

'I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid.

'I would never want to speak on behalf of the community but I do know that my dear transgender friends and colleagues are tired of this constant questioning of their identities, which all too often results in violence and abuse. They simply want to live their lives peacefully, and it’s time to let them do so.'

Recently, Stephen Fry - who narrated the Harry Potter audiobooks - has also distanced himself from JK, whom he once called a friend, for inciting hatred against trans people and doing nothing to 'disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, violently destructive things that people say.

The comedian told The Show People podcast in June last year: 'She has been radicalised I fear and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her.

'It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid. I am not saying that she should not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.

'She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong difficult views. She seemed to wake up, or kick, a hornet's nest of transphobia which has been entirely destructive. I disagree profoundly with her on this subject.

'I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, violently destructive things that people say. She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people.'

'She has crowed at the success of legislation in Scotland and elsewhere declaring things about gender. So I am very happy to go on the record to say that I am really angry about that.

Most recently to speak out on JK's views was John Lithgow, who is set to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO TV adaptation (pictured last year)

Most recently to speak out on JK's views was John Lithgow, who is set to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO TV adaptation.

In the wake of his casting, the actor, 80, revealed that a friend with a trans child sent him a link to an article entitled: 'An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter' - something he admitted made him feel 'uncomfortable'.

Last month, he said: 'I take the subject extremely seriously. JK Rowling has created this amazing canon for young people, young kids' literature that has jumped into the consciousness of society...

'Young and old people love Harry Potter and the Harry Potter stories. It's so much about acceptance. It's about good versus evil. It's about kindness versus cruelty... It's deeply felt.

'I find it ironic and somewhat inexplicable that Rowling has expressed such views.'

John went on: 'It upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in Potter canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She has written this meditation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.'