Original Dumbledore Actor's Son Says 'I Don't Understand' WhyHarry PotterTV Reboot Is Happening

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Jared Harris; Richard Harris as Dumbledore in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”.Photo:Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage; AFP/AFP via Getty

Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage; AFP/AFP via Getty

Though someHarry Potterfans eagerly await for Max’stelevision rebootof the beloved movies, Jared Harris isn’t one of them.

TheMad Menalum — who is also the son of original Dumbledore actorRichard Harris— admitted that he didn’t agree with the streamer’s decision to revisit the franchise on the small screen. When asked if he’d consider following in his father’s footsteps as Dumbledore, he toldThe Independent, “No, thank you.”

“Also, I mean, why do it?" he added. “I don’t understand. The films were fantastic – leave them alone.”

Richard Harris in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’.Alamy

Alamy

Despite his stance on theHarry Potterseries, Jared acknowledged that the episodes will likely be able to explore “a lot of storytelling” that the movies didn’t cover.

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Emma Watson in “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone”.Alamy

In April, Warner Bros. Discoveryannounced plans to adaptthe originalHarry Potternovels — this time, as a streaming series on Max. The studio billed the project as a “faithful adaptation,” teasing that each season will cover a single book.

Rowling is expected to be involved as an executive producerdespite her recent controversies.

“We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discoverHogwartsin a whole new way,” said HBO and Max CEO and chairman Casey Bloys. “Harry Potteris a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World. In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Radcliffe previously revealed he had no intentions to reprise his role as the titular wizard.

“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Radcliffe toldComicBook.comin July 2023.

As for whether he’d actually want to appear, he replied: “I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way.”

source: people.com