Harry Potter has become such a staple in modern pop culture that one would be hard-pressed to find a person who has never heard of the name. The original book series by J.K. Rowling has launched a franchise matched by few others. Besides the books, the series has seen movie adaptations, plays, theme parks, merchandise, video games, board games, and now, a television series, spawned from the source material.
It is HBO's television adaptation that has captured the world by storm as of late, as filming has begun and the series is slated to premiere in 2027. The show promises to be largely faithful to the original, with each season representing a book in the series. Fans are thrilled for the opportunity to watch a refreshed version of the iconic novels, and the hype has led the show to be anticipated as among both the most expensive and lucrative series in TV history.
With production having begun, Warner Bros. has given us a first look at the new Harry Potter, and fans have had plenty of reactions. The fanbase is highly passionate and heavily involved in all aspects of the franchise. While some fans have some worries about the new actor, Dominic McLaughlin's age, the overall reception has been highly positive.
Fans take to social media to support new Harry Potter actor
McLaughlin has taken over the Harry Potter role made famous by Daniel Radcliffe, which is some mighty big shoes to fill. Now that Warner Bros. has given us a look at McLaughlin as young Harry, though, fans feel the series is in good hands. Overall, the general reception is that the actor is a perfect casting choice, that he looks exactly like he came off the cover of one of Rowling's books, and that they even nailed his eye coloring in the exact way the book depicts.
An article from Hello! Magazine sums up many of the quotes from fan reactions. When the picture made it to social media, fans couldn't hold back sharing their opinions.
"Ok. Yup. He was the perfect choice," was a comment from one fan.
Another stated, "He looks perfect as Harry, not gonna lie," with yet a third exclaiming, "HE IS PERFECT!"
“😭😭😭😭 HE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS 😭😭😭,” said another on Instagram.
“Good luck little Harry. Please protect him from all the haters 🥲,” a commenter wrote.
Another user added: “Good luck little Harry. We'll be watching your career with great interest.”
I can agree with the fans that McLaughlin pulls off the look perfectly. It is worth remembering that Harry himself was very young for the first book, as his schooling in Hogwarts spanned seven years. Radcliffe appeared much younger in the first movie, and not at all like the image many have burned in their brains now.
Keeping all this in mind, McLaughlin seems to be a great replacement. He has big shoes to fill, but he is starting off set up for success. Hopefully, by the time we get to see the first episode, the entire package will be confirmed as we watch the young actor grow up on our screens.
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