NEW YORK — Daniel Radcliffe, the actor best known for portraying the young wizard Harry Potter in the blockbuster film series, recently shared a memorable anecdote from his early career that highlights the sometimes outlandish pitches that come with sudden fame. Appearing as a guest on the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, where celebrities endure increasingly spicy chicken wings while answering questions, Radcliffe recounted a proposal that he described as 'one of the worst ideas' he'd ever heard. The pitch, which surfaced during the height of the Harry Potter production, involved remaking the classic film The Wizard of Oz with Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in key roles.
Radcliffe, now 34, was just 14 or 15 years old when the idea was floated to the trio, who had already become global sensations through their roles as Harry, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively. According to Radcliffe's account on Hot Ones, the remake would have cast Watson as Dorothy, the iconic Kansas girl transported to the magical land of Oz. Grint's role remains fuzzy in Radcliffe's memory, but he vividly recalled his own part: a Cowardly Lion with a twist. 'I was like a karate-kicking Cowardly Lion,' Radcliffe said, mimicking his youthful disbelief at the concept.
The actor's reaction at the time was immediate and decisive. 'I was like 14 or 15, and I was like, ‘I don’t know a lot about the world, but this is a bad idea. This should not be made,'' he told host Sean Evans during the episode, which aired ahead of Radcliffe's return to Broadway in the play Every Brilliant Thing and the premiere of the comedy film The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins. The story drew laughs from the audience, underscoring how even child stars like Radcliffe had to navigate Hollywood's more eccentric suggestions while still finding their footing in the industry.
The Harry Potter franchise, based on J.K. Rowling's bestselling books, spanned eight films from 2001 to 2011, grossing over $7.7 billion worldwide and cementing the young actors' stardom. During that period, the cast was frequently approached with ideas leveraging their magical personas. The Wizard of Oz remake pitch, though never realized, echoes other attempts to blend the Potter magic with other fairy-tale lore, such as early rumors of crossovers that never materialized. Radcliffe's dismissal of the idea reflects the protective instincts that emerged among the young performers and their teams as they sought to preserve the integrity of their breakout roles.
Post-Potter, Radcliffe has deliberately chosen diverse and unconventional projects to distance himself from the boy-wizard image. He starred as a flatulent corpse in the 2016 indie film Swiss Army Man, opposite Paul Dano, and played a gun-toting computer programmer in the 2019 action-comedy Guns Akimbo, showcasing his willingness to take risks. These roles, along with his stage work, have earned him critical acclaim and a reputation for versatility. His recent appearance in the Sony Pictures Classics release Merrily We Roll Along, a live-filmed version of the four-time Tony Award-winning musical revival, featured him alongside Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez. The film, which hit theaters in December, marked another milestone in his transition to more mature, ensemble-driven work.
'One of the worst ideas that I’ve ever heard: During Potter, somebody came to us and, I think, asked — like they wanted to cast all three of us — me, Emma [Watson] and Rupert [Grint] — in a remake of Wizard of Oz, where Emma was Dorothy, I can’t remember what Rupert was and I just remember I was going to be the lion, but also, he knew karate. I was like a karate-kicking Cowardly Lion,' Radcliffe said on the show.
Radcliffe's reflections come at a poignant time for the Harry Potter universe. HBO has greenlit a reboot series, Harry Potter, set to premiere in 2026, which will feature an entirely new cast for the roles that defined a generation. Filming began earlier this year in Leavesden Studios, the same UK facility where the original films were shot. The project aims to adapt all seven books over multiple seasons, with each installment covering one novel. Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns the rights, has emphasized fidelity to Rowling's source material while updating the visuals for a modern audience.
For the role of Harry Potter, 13-year-old Dominic McLaughlin was selected from a global casting call that drew thousands of young actors. Radcliffe, who has largely stayed out of direct involvement with the reboot to avoid overshadowing the new talent, nonetheless reached out to McLaughlin with a personal note. 'I didn’t want to be a specter in the life of these children,' Radcliffe explained on Hot Ones, referring to the intense scrutiny that comes with the role. In his letter, he wrote: '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.'
The gesture highlights Radcliffe's supportive stance toward the next generation of wizards. He has spoken previously with Watson and Grint about the surreal experience of seeing their childhood work rebooted. In a separate interview last year, Radcliffe told Deadline that discussions with his former co-stars often revolve around the 'how surreal' it feels to watch new actors inhabit the characters they originated. Watson, now focused on her career as a producer and advocate, and Grint, who has balanced acting with fatherhood, have echoed similar sentiments, expressing excitement mixed with nostalgia.
The original Harry Potter films not only launched the careers of its young leads but also revitalized the fantasy genre in cinema. The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 MGM classic starring Judy Garland, has itself been a target for remakes over the years, though none have matched its cultural impact. Proposals for updates, including a 2013 prequel Oz the Great and Powerful directed by Sam Raimi, have varied in success, but casting child stars from another franchise like Potter would have been an unprecedented mash-up. Radcliffe's story sheds light on the behind-the-scenes creativity — and occasional misfires — that shaped Hollywood's approach to leveraging young talent.
Watson's potential role as Dorothy would have been particularly intriguing, given her poised portrayal of Hermione. At the time of the pitch, around 2004 or 2005 based on Radcliffe's age, the Potter films were midway through production, with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in pre-production. Grint, known for his comic timing as Ron, might have suited roles like the Scarecrow or Tin Man, though specifics remain unclear from Radcliffe's recollection. The idea, while whimsical, underscores the pressure on the actors to capitalize on their fame during a formative period.
Radcliffe's current endeavors reflect a career built on reinvention. Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show he first performed in 2015, returns to Broadway this spring at the Laura Pels Theatre, exploring themes of depression and human connection through audience interaction. Meanwhile, The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins, a comedy directed by Tom Hammer, is slated for a festival premiere, promising another quirky turn from the actor. These projects align with his post-Potter philosophy of seeking roles that challenge expectations, much like his Broadway debut in Equus in 2007, which featured a controversial nude scene and drew packed houses.
As the Harry Potter reboot progresses, fans are buzzing about how it will honor the original while forging its own path. Rowling, who serves as an executive producer, has stated that the series will stay true to the books' essence, avoiding the films' occasional deviations. Casting announcements continue, with Albus Dumbledore to be played by John Lithgow and Minerva McGonagall by Paapa Essiedu, signaling a diverse ensemble. Radcliffe's letter to McLaughlin suggests a smooth handoff, free from the competitive undertones that sometimes plague reboots.
The entertainment industry has seen a surge in legacy franchises being revisited, from Star Wars to Spider-Man, often sparking debates about necessity and innovation. Radcliffe's anecdote about the Wizard of Oz pitch serves as a lighthearted reminder of the wild ideas that bubble up in development rooms. While that particular project never saw the light of day, it illustrates the boundless imagination — and occasional overreach — that drives Hollywood.
Looking ahead, Radcliffe shows no signs of slowing down. With Merrily We Roll Along earning praise for its innovative filming technique, capturing the Stephen Sondheim musical in reverse chronology, he continues to blend film, theater, and television. His willingness to share stories like the Oz remake not only entertains but also humanizes the star, offering insight into the decisions that shaped his path from child actor to respected performer. As the Potter legacy evolves, Radcliffe's voice remains a bridge between eras, encouraging the new cast to embrace the magic without the shadows.