Daniel Radcliffe begs Harry Potter fans not to put pressure on child actors in new TV series by making comparisons to original cast and says ‘I don’t want to be a weird phantom in their lives’

Daniel Radcliffe has begged Harry Potter fans not to put pressure on the child actors in the new TV series by making comparisons to the original cast. 

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the actor, 36, who played the titular character in the film franchise, said he doesn’t want to be a ‘weird spectral phantom’ in the children’s lives.   

Dominic McLaughlin has bagged the role of Harry Potter, while Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley in the upcoming HBO TV adaptation of JK Rowling‘s wizarding world. 

Daniel said that he’s sure ‘Dominic is going to be better than me’ and urged fans to let the new stars ‘get on with it’ as he answered concerns about fame at a young age.

He said: ‘In some ways I think getting famous when you are young is almost easier because then all the weird things about fame are so intertwined with your life that they don’t feel weird when you come up against them. 

‘There was a whole thing when these kids got cast like, “We have to look after them.” If you mean that, one of the things people can do is not ask about us.’

Speaking to Screen Rant, Daniel added: ‘I would like not to be weird spectral phantoms in these children’s lives and just let them get on with it.  

‘It’s going to be a new thing, a different thing and they’re going to be better than me, I’m sure Dominic is going to be better than me.

‘I learned as I went. I look back at what I did now with a lot more kindness and I find it less embarrassing now that I’m older.’

Offering some advice, the actor continued: ‘I would say, have the best time and lean on the crew. Everyone has an image of how we were all raised on the set by the best British actors, but Maggie Smith wasn’t coming in and giving me advice on how to grow up. That’s not their job.

‘The people that we were really close to were the crew. The crew were some of my best friends, they are still the people who I am really close to.’ 

Additional cast on the HBO series sees Rory Wilmot set play Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser – best known for his role as Qyburn in Game Of Thrones – as Garrick Ollivander. 

Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby were announced the Mr and Mrs Dursley earlier this year. 

Janet McTeer, known for her powerhouse performances on stage and screen, will step into the sharp heels of Professor McGonagall, while rising star Paapa Essiedu takes on the darker, more complicated role of Severus Snape – a part made famous by the late Alan Rickman.

Actor and comedian Nick Frost will play legendary Hogwarts groundskeeper Hagrid in the adaption.

Harry Potter filming resumed in November, as stars of the HBO series took to the historic Ashridge Estate to film Quidditch scenes.

Taking to the grounds of the estate in Hertfordshire, Dominic, who is playing the titular character, was seen alongside Louise as Madam Hooch, Rory as Neville and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.

The use of the location acts as history repeating itself, as the grounds were previously used for 2005 movie Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, where the surroundings acted as the background for the Quidditch World Cup.