While fans have grown accustomed to witnessing Daniel Radcliffe’s captivating performances on the screen, whether as the Chosen One or as a dual-gun wielding crazed lunatic, the beloved Harry Potter star is embarking on a fresh venture. Radcliffe will step into the role of an executive producer for an upcoming Harry Potter documentary telling the story of one of his stunt doubles.
The upcoming documentary titled David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is a coming-of-age story of Holmes, a gymnast-turned-stunt man who worked with Radcliffe on six Harry Potter movies. He also had the role of a Slytherin beater in a Quidditch game in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Holmes’ last work was on Deathly Hollows Part 1 where he was involved in a planned stunt during filming. The stunt didn’t go as planned and resulted in an explosion that caused Holmes to fall to the ground and suffer a life-altering injury. The accident left the stunt double paralyzed from the chest down and changed the course of the young man’s life.
“As Daniel and his closest stunt colleagues rally to support David and his family in their moment of need, it is David’s extraordinary spirit of resilience that becomes their greatest source of strength and inspiration,” a press release for the project reads.
The documentary features footage from Holmes’ work as a stunt double, his life over the past decade, and interviews with Radcliffe, family, friends, and former crew members. The project explores themes of resilience in the face of adversity, growing up, and enduring bonds that bind people together. Holmes and Radcliffe remained close after the film series ended and appeared in a podcast discussing the incredible work of stunt performers and coordinators in Hollywood.
Holmes celebrated the announcement of the documentary in an Instagram post.
“Being a stuntman was my calling in life, and doubling Harry was the best job in the world,” Holmes wrote. “This film tells the story of not just my achievements in front of camera, but also the challenges I face every day, and my overall attitude to life after suffering a broken neck.”
He adds, “In the turbulent world we find ourselves living in right now, I would like to quote Harry; ‘we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.'”
Radcliffe serves as executive producer alongside Holmes, director Dan Hartley, Sue Latimer, Sarah Spahovic, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Tina Nguyen, and Poppy Dixon. Producers are Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Vanessa Davies, and Stares.
David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived premieres on HBO on November 15 and will be available for streaming on Max. The film will also be available on Sky Documentaries and Now on November 18.
