Actor Daniel Radcliffe will soon release a documentary about his longtime stunt double throughout the “Harry Potter” franchise. The film, titled “David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived” follows Holmes’ life throughout the filming of the fantasy franchise, and the subsequent on set accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
The documentary title is a reference to Radcliffe’s iconic character of Harry Potter, often dubbed “the boy who lived” throughout the series.
The film, produced through HBO and Sky in the U.K., will also explore Radcliffe and Holmes’ decades long friendship. Holmes was paralyzed while rehearsing a stunt for “Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part I” in 2009. Holmes is a trained gymnast and worked in stunts since he was 14 years old. In 2020, the pair of actors hosted a podcast titled “Cunning Stunts.”
Following the 2009 accident, Radcliffe hosted a fundraiser for Holmes’ hefty medical bills. Also in attendance at the fundraiser was Radcliffe’s costar Tom Felton, who portrayed Draco Malfoy throughout the film franchise.
“I’ve got a relationship that goes back many, many years with Dave,” Radcliffe told The Mirror in 2014. “And I would hate for people to just see me and Dave and go, ‘Oh, there’s Daniel Radcliffe with a person in a wheelchair’ because I would never, even for a moment, want them to assume that Dave was anything except for an incredibly important person in my life.”
Social Media Reactions
Fans of Radcliffe and the “Harry Potter” franchise were touched at the documentary announcement. Radcliffe is known for his compassion towards communities facing adversity, notably through his partnership with the Trevor Project, which works to prevent suicide in LGBTQ+ youth.
The title…
Man!
— Collins (@collinscollin77) October 25, 2023
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“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling has faced mounting criticism in recent years for her transphobic views. Rowling previously came under fire for penning an essay titled “TERF Wars”, which many activists and former “Harry Potter” fans alike felt only made her transphobia clearer.
“TERF” is an acronym that stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, and essentially centers on the belief that only women who were assigned female at birth can really be feminists and understand the experience of being a woman. Though the controversy began when the essay was released in 2020, Rowling was brought to the forefront of conversation when a new video game titled “Hogwarts Legacy” was released, and featured a transgender character that some felt was insensitive.
Many feel Radcliffe’s continued advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities proves that regardless of his titular role in her life’s work, he has never aligned with her views.
It’s an opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes of the movie industry. 🌟🎞️
— Emily Parker (@1stEmilyParker) October 25, 2023
Others hope that the film will also highlight the true challenges faced by stunt workers in the film industry.
It’s sure to shed light on the challenges and dedication of those working behind the scenes in the film industry. 🪄🎬
— Emily Parker (@1stEmilyParker) October 25, 2023
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The documentary premiers on HBO on Nov. 5.
