Warner Brothers Discovery’s plan to reboot the Harry Potter series as an HBO Max show has caused disappointment among the original stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
However, the truth is that Radcliffe had already established himself as a talented actor before landing the role of Harry Potter, with his breakout role being in a BBC adaptation of David Copperfield. While working on the franchise for over a decade may have limited his ability to take on experimental roles,
Radcliffe has since made up for lost time with his diverse range of projects. In light of Rowling’s controversial statements and the underperformance of the Fantastic Beasts series, involving Radcliffe in the franchise again would not be the best move for him as an actor.
After Harry Potter, Radcliffe demonstrated that he was not looking to repeat the same formula by joining another franchise and portraying another iconic character. While his fans may have been excited to see him as a superhero, Radcliffe’s desire to explore unfamiliar territory was evident.
He demonstrated his versatility with horror films like Woman in Black and Horns, which would likely not appeal to the same younger audience that enjoyed Harry Potter.
Radcliffe’s willingness to take on challenging roles that may not appeal to his existing fan base suggested that he was interested in cultivating a new following rather than simply catering to his existing fans.
Rewritten: Despite not entirely succeeding, Radcliffe’s amiable and charismatic portrayal of Harry in the Harry Potter franchise remained an asset that he continued to utilize to his advantage. It even suggested that he deserved more recognition for improving Rowling’s loosely defined character.
Although neither What If nor Victor Frankenstein achieved widespread acclaim, Radcliffe undoubtedly enhanced the material with his charming personality. What If adheres to nearly every romantic comedy cliché, but Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan’s delightful chemistry saves the film.
Victor Frankenstein is another attempt at adapting the original source material with the poorly written script of Max Landis, but Radcliffe’s portrayal of Igor, a character often depicted as a caricature in other versions, reveals a sensitive soul. Without Radcliffe’s involvement, neither film would be worth recommending.
Radcliffe’s dedication to pushing his limits as an actor was evident even after his demanding role in the Harry Potter franchise. This was particularly evident in his performance as “Manny,” a talking and flatulent corpse in the debut film of Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, Swiss Army Man.
The film showcased Radcliffe’s willingness to take risks and give it his all in an unconventional role that many actors would have avoided for fear of damaging their careers. Radcliffe’s physical comedy skills, makeup effects, and improvisation made the performance truly remarkable, and the Daniels’ unique vision would not have been as impactful without Radcliffe’s convincing portrayal.