Daniel Radcliffe has reacted to Saturday Night Live's Harry Potter recent themed Heated Rivalry sketch.
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The actor, 36, spoke in a new interview about the show's spoof which aired last month featuring Finn Wolfhard as Harry and Ben Marshall as Ron Weasley.
Hockey romance Heated Rivalry has been grabbing headlines for its raunchy scenes and follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov who are two stars in Major League Hockey that develop a secret, passionate romance.
SNL took on Heated Rivalry conjuring up a romance between Harry and Ron in 'Heated Wizardry'.
'Weirdly, I had met Finn Wolfhard a few weeks before, randomly, and we chatted for a bit,' Daniel has now told Rolling Stone of hearing about the sketch.
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'And then he texted me the day before it aired, being like, 'Hey, just so you know, we're doing a Harry Potter sketch.' I haven't seen Heated Rivalry, although I am very aware - my girlfriend is a huge fan.
Daniel Radcliffe has reacted to Saturday Night Live's Harry Potter recent themed Heated Rivalry sketch
The actor, 36, spoke in a new interview about the show's spoof which aired last month featuring Finn Wolfhard as Harry and Ben Marshall as Ron Weasley
'I'm sure there are jokes I was missing, but it was very funny and sweet. I'm always happy to see other versions of that. It makes me laugh.'
In the sketch Ron and Harry ended up in a Quidditch rivalry that became a secret romance - mirroring the series' storyline.
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'Coming soon to HBO, the beloved wizarding world of Harry Potter makes its television debut,' a voiceover said.
'With an all new story hastily written after the success of a certain other HBO show…'
It comes after in December Daniel reunited with his former Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton as they put their differences aside to attend a screening of the former's new movie in New York.
The duo, who appeared in all eight movies in the magical franchise, looked overjoyed to see one another, despite their contrasting views on Harry Potter creator JK Rowling's controversial anti-trans crusade.
Daniel who played the titular character from 2001 to 2011, beamed as he chatted fondly to Tom, 38, who starred as Harry's nemesis Draco Malfoy in the movies, ahead of The Cinema Society Special Screening of Daniel's new film Merrily We Go Along.
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Despite their fond reunion, the duo's views have very publicly contrasted ever since Daniel opposed and Tom supported JK Rowling, 60, in her vocal opposition to the view that gender identity is different from birth sex.
In 2020 Daniel joined a host of other Harry Potter stars in hitting out at the author's trans exclusionary views, while Tom has remained loyal to JK - insisting he is 'not affected or attuned' to the views of the creator.
SNL took on Heated Rivalry conjuring up a romance between Harry and Ron in 'Heated Wizardry'
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger standing beside Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in The Chamber of Secrets
In the sketch Ron and Harry ended up in a Quidditch rivalry that became a secret romance - mirroring the series' storyline
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The duo appeared to be getting on as famously as ever at the event despite their views.
JK has caused ructions around the world with her stance on trans rights - which have led to her being branded a trans-exclusionary radical feminism (TERF).
In 2020, Radcliffe released a statement through The Trevor Project, stating that transgender women are women and that any statement to the contrary 'erases the identity and dignity of transgender people'.
The star issued an apology to the fans whose experience of the books was negatively impacted by JK's comments and insisted he wanted to help.
The author went on to suggest on social media that Daniel and co-star Emma Watson were 'celebrities who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors'.
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Daniel also revealed he has had no direct contact with JK since the controversy.
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.'
Tom meanwhile has remained on JK's side and kept his stance on her views guarded - something which has led to his remaining in the franchise.
When asked directly if the controversy around JK's views on trans rights affected his decision to star in The Cursed Child as his original character, Tom said earlier this year: 'No, I can't say it does. I'm not really that attuned...
'The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world. Here I am in New York. And I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she's responsible for that. So I'm incredibly grateful.'
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He maintained his support and has continued to promote Potter by attending fan conventions and events and previously explained why in an interview with The Times.
Hockey romance Heated Rivalry has been grabbing headlines for its raunchy scenes and follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov who develop a secret, passionate romance
'Weirdly, I had met Finn Wolfhard a few weeks before, randomly, and we chatted for a bit,' Daniel told Rolling Stone of hearing about the sketch
He said: 'I couldn't speak for what others have said or what she said, to be completely honest, but I'm often reminded, attending Comic Cons in particular, that no one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations and walks of life...
'I'm constantly reminded of her positive work in that field and as a person. I've only had a handful of meetings with her but she has always been lovely. So I'm very grateful for that.'
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He went on: 'I don't tend to pick sides. I won't talk specifics but I enjoy reminding myself and others that a lot of my good friends have ways of life or personal decisions that I don't necessarily agree with...
'We should enjoy celebrating each other's differences.'

