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Fans of the Harry Potter franchise were ecstatic to see Daniel Radcliffe's reemergence in Hogwarts castle during HBO Max's Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special, but it looks as if that may be the closest audiences get to seeing Radcliffe appear in the magical world again. Radcliffe indicated that donning the invisibility cloak once more was not currently within the realm of interests.
Radcliffe last appeared as the iconic magical figure in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, which released more than a decade ago. Since then, the Harry Potter universe has attempted to stay relevant and afloat with the emergence of the prequel Fantastic Beasts franchise, releasing its third installment this April. As a result, there has been no mention of a possible return for Radcliffe, but assumptions started to quickly arise when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus indicated his desire to direct The Cursed Child with the magical trio of Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint reprising their roles. Radcliffe, however, doesn't share similar feelings about a possible return to the iconic role.
"This isn’t the answer that anybody’s going to want, but I think I was so able to go back and enjoy it because it’s not a part of my day-to-day life anymore," expressed Radcliffe while speaking to the New York Times. "I’m getting to a point where I feel like I made it out of “Potter” OK, and I’m really happy with where I am now, and to go back would be such a massive change to my life." Radcliff stepped into the shoes of the titular character at eleven-years-old, and played the beloved figure in a series of eight Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011. For over a decade, Radcliffe was immersed in the Wizarding World, which limited opportunities for the young actor to expand his professional resume elsewhere.
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"I'm never going to say never, but the "Star Wars" guys had like 30, 40 years before they went back. For me, it's only been 10. It's not something I'm really interested in doing right now," stated Radcliffe. The thirty-two-year-old actor has done several projects since he departed from Harry Potter, which has allowed the star to create an avenue separate from his adolescent endeavors. Of course, it's not easy for actors and actresses to walk away from franchises they have invested heavily in because their names become associated with one distinct role. But, as Radcliffe noted, he has been able to thrive despite his prolonged stay in the Wizarding World, which has led to an incredible opportunity with The Lost City, alongside Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Brad Pitt.
Radcliffe's "never say never" attitude opens the fans to hope that the actor may once again return to the Wizarding World, but audiences have enough to hold them over until that time comes. The third installment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, The Secrets of Dumbledore, will make its appearance in theaters on April 15th, centering around a young Dumbledore and a tumultuous war brewing in the magical world. In addition, the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy video game will arrive this holiday season, which gives lovers of the franchise an additional means to explore everything magical. Radcliffe gave audiences a beloved portrayal of an iconic character for over a decade, and now he looks to further explore other areas in his profession.
Radcliffe's newest film, The Lost City, will hit theaters on March 25th and will play a significant role in assessing the future of moviegoing for studios. The film, however, isn't the only current project up Radcliffe's sleeve. Weird Al Yankovic announced in January that Radcliffe would be playing him in a new biopic, streaming exclusively on The Roku Channel. Radcliffe is beyond excited for audiences to see the film and the work he has been doing to do to create an incredible experience. Harry Potter for Radcliffe may be in the rearview, but the actor's newest work at least provides audiences with a way to enjoy its charismatic presence.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is now available on HBO Max.
Source: The New York Times