Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he penned a heartfelt letter to his Harry Potter successor as cameras began rolling on the highly-anticipated HBO series.
The actor disclosed he even got a touching reply from the young star, marking a symbolic passing of the torch between generations.
Production on the TV adaptation of JK Rowling's beloved wizarding saga has already kicked off, with a fresh ensemble of celebrated actors stepping into the shoes of the cherished Harry Potter characters.
But as three newcomers prepare to embark on their most significant venture to date, Daniel provided his replacement with some encouraging guidance to help navigate the journey ahead.
The programme isn't expected to grace our screens until 2027, but filming officially commenced back in July, reports the Mirror.
Daniel looked back on his own experience shooting the franchise and noted how the magic is being recreated on set with the new generation of performers.
According to People, the 36-year-old told Good Morning America on Tuesday (November 18) that he had crafted a message for 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, who is poised to inherit the titular role.
He clarified that he didn't need to, but felt compelled to reach out as principal photography began on the production.
"I wouldn't say that anyone who is going to play Harry has to [reach out]," Radcliffe explained.
"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."
Daniel Radcliffe, who was the face of Harry Potter for years, growing up on screen in the film adaptations of JK Rowling's beloved books, has shared his heartfelt wishes for the new generation of actors stepping into the iconic roles. When asked why he felt compelled to pen a letter to the young stars, he confessed that he didn't "not want to be a spectre in the light" of their own interpretations of the characters.
He added: "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, I just see these pictures of him and the other kids and I just want to hug them."
Radcliffe admitted to being taken aback when he first saw photos of the fresh-faced actors set to portray the famous trio of Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, remarking that they looked "so young". However, he acknowledged that he faced similar apprehensions when he first took on the role back in 2001, at the tender age of 12.
HBO has announced that each book in the series will be transformed into its own separate season, with releases planned over the next few years. A host of well-known actors have also been cast to bring life to iconic characters such as Dumbledore and Professor Snape.
In addition, some familiar faces from the original films will be reprising their roles for the HBO series. Warwick Davis has confirmed he will be returning to the franchise, once again portraying Filius Flitwick in a touching tribute to the original films.
In a statement announcing the commission of the series, HBO has said it is aiming to be as "authentic to the original books" as possible, whilst bringing new viewers into the world of Harry Potter. Radcliffe added that he would not be making a ceremonial cameo in the series.
In an interview with E! in May 2024, Daniel expressed his excitement about watching the series as a viewer. When asked if he thought it was a good idea not to have the original trio back, he said: "I don't know if it would work to have us do anything in it."