Harry Potter main lead Dominic McLaughlin open up about playing The Boy Who Lived for the first time 

It is confirmed: the new face of Harry Potter himself is talking, and he sounds exactly like a kid who has just received his first letter from Hogwarts. The fresh-faced star of HBO's forthcoming adaptation, Dominic McLaughlin, has spoken publicly, for the first time, of facing the pressure of living the lightning-bolt legacy. The young actor confesses that the entire experience is “a bit surreal,” and you can literally hear the ecstatic wonder between the lines: he grew up reading the books and watching the films, and now he is literally donning the robes.

This was not a casual casting for him; it was the sort of gig you think about at school, and then you have to pinch yourself when it actually happens in reality. McLaughlin is patient and thankful, and he describes the experience as the fulfillment of a dream, yet one that means stepping in the footsteps of a character that millions of people grew up with.

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What McLaughlin said

At the Edinburgh International Film Festival, when asked by the BBC how it was to first slip on Harry Potter's costume, McLaughlin replied: surreal. That’s the word of the week, and it goes so well with those round, retro-styled glasses and that black school robe. All that iconography isn’t just wardrobe; it has become a cultural uniform. Viewers have seen the first images and set glimpses, but hearing the person under the scar express his enthusiasm aloud gives more weight to the moment.

“It was a bit surreal to be honest, I was always a big Harry Potter fan when I was younger…It’s a dream role, and I’m thrilled to be able to be doing it.”

Dominic’s journey from wizard-loving kid to “the boy who lived”

Dominic McLaughlin is living a fantasy lover’s greatest, wildest dream: he actually grew up cheering for Harry Potter, and now he is Harry Potter. Getting his “dream role” wasn’t just happenstance; it's the culmination of fandom, perseverance, and a bit of fate. With millions of fans so deeply and affectionately familiar with Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, it is not an easy job for McLaughlin to take on the role. But McLaughlin debuts at the same age Radcliffe did, that is, 11, which offers the new Harry Potter series a fresh start and McLaughlin an opportunity to grow up with the character. Watching an 11-year-old fan become the star of the world's most magical saga lends the show a genuine, heartwarming core.

What the new Harry Potter series promises

The greatest benefit of the TV reboot is time. Each Harry Potter book is going to have its own full season, and thus, storylines that felt rushed and incomplete in the movies will have room for in-depth exploration. The audience will get to witness more of the magical life at Hogwarts, have a closer peek into the trio's friendship, and all those excruciatingly brave moments that really define Harry as a character will be played before our eyes with more screentime. Production began in July 2025, and HBO plans to release it in 2027. The team has made it obvious that they are going slow and steady, not rushing too much or too fast to the major events such as the Triwizard Tournament.

The show is developing a powerful long-term cast ensemble, and that is the best part for McLaughlin. He does not merely replay past scenes; as Harry Potter grows, he grows with him over the years. Provided the series remains consistent with its vision - true to the books, detailed, with a focus on the characters - there is a possibility that it can give us a Harry we are familiar with but brand new at the same time.

For more such insights on the Harry Potter series, keep following SoapCentral.

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