Daniel Radcliffe slams absurd Harry Potter ‘Wizard of Oz’ concept that should never have been made

Daniel Radcliffe, the boy who grew up in the wizarding world of Hogwarts, just revealed one of the strangest ideas he ever heard in Hollywood and it involves a classic musical, karate, and some very confused casting.

During a recent appearance on ‘Hot Ones’, Radcliffe reminisced about the odd film ideas he’s been pitched over the years. One memory, in particular, stuck out as completely “wrong,” even to a young teen version of himself. Back when he was filming the ‘Harry Potter’ series, someone approached him with a plan that made him pause and laugh nervously.

Advertisement

Also Read: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle release date set for March; how to catch the epic final battle again

The concept? A full remake of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, starring all three leads from ‘Harry Potter’. Emma Watson would play Dorothy, Rupert Grint would take an undefined role, and Radcliffe himself… would play the Cowardly Lion. But not just any Lion, this one would be a karate-kicking Cowardly Lion.

“I was like, this is a bad idea”

Radcliffe, then just 14 or 15, remembered feeling immediately skeptical. “I don’t know a lot about the world, but this is a bad idea. This should not be made,” he said, recalling how the pitch made zero sense to him at the time. He admitted that the idea has stuck with him for years, partly because it was so bizarre.

Looking back, it’s easy to see why the young actor had second thoughts. After all, a magical adventure about witches and wizards crossing paths with a karate-fighting lion doesn’t exactly scream cinematic genius.

From Potter to broadway

While the idea never went anywhere and probably for the best, Radcliffe has certainly kept busy since his Hogwarts days. He recently appeared in ‘Merrily We Roll Along’, a filmed stage version of the award-winning musical, showcasing his musical theatre chops.

But that’s not all. Radcliffe is ready to return to Broadway soon in ‘The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins’, a new comedy that promises more laughs than confusion. Clearly, the actor has found his sweet spot between stage and screen, tackling projects that make sense, and ones that let him shine, without any karate-infused lions in sight.