Daniel Radcliffe is best known for his role as Harry Potter in the beloved film franchise Harry Potter based on the book series by J.K. Rowling.
But the actor recently told the world that he almost transitioned into the role of director in order to tell the story of his friend and stunt double David Holmes, who was tragically paralyzed on set.
The Story of David Holmes
Before diving into Daniel’s recent interview in which he explained why he wanted to and then couldn’t direct a documentary about David Holmes, it’s first important to understand David’s story.
David Holmes worked side by side with Daniel Radcliffe on the first seven Harry Potter films as his stunt double. Holmes essentially did all the action shots that Daniel couldn’t do, and he was fantastic at his job.
The Tragic Accident
But sadly, while filming the seventh movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, David Holmes suffered a spinal cord injury and is now completely paralyzed from the neck down.
That day, David’s life changed forever. But, of course, Daniel’s did too, as he felt an incredible amount of guilt and sadness for his friend.
Daniel’s Desire to Share His Friend’s Story
Nearly a decade later, Daniel decided he wanted to share the tragic and heartwarming story of his friend, David Holmes.
Radcliffe explained in a recent interview, “I had always wanted to do something about Dave because I wanted to share him with the world for the person that he is.”
David Holmes Wasn’t Excited about the Idea
Daniel Radcliffe said that David wasn’t immediately excited about the documentary. He said, “Dave’s natural humility meant that he was kind of unsure about that for a while — he wanted to make something broader about stunts in general.”
But then, Daniel said, “I sort of convinced him that he should be front and center of it.” And the two friends got to work shooting the documentary with Radcliffe as the director.
Daniel Radcliffe Realized He Wasn’t a Great Director
Radcliffe told the press he thought “[he] would know how to direct a documentary. Turns out, [he] didn’t. At all.”
Radcliffe and Holmes laughed lightheartedly at what they had shot and realized quickly they needed a professional director. That’s when they contacted Dan Hartley, who worked alongside the friends on several of the Harry Potter films.
Dan Hartley Told the Guys, “You Should Probably Start Again”
According to Daniel, when Hartley saw what they had made, he said, “If you want to make a documentary that you know looks good, you should probably start again.”
But the guys didn’t want just anyone on the project; they specifically wanted a director who they knew personally and understood David’s story.
Asking Harltley to Direct
Daniel Radcliffe explained, “We wanted someone we knew, and that would connect to the material in the same way that we did. We were kind of scared of somebody from the outside coming in with a slightly more salacious lens.”
And continued, “Dan [Hartley] had obviously made a feature film before. He hadn’t made a documentary, but we trusted him immensely, and we talked about all the docs that we loved, and we were very much on the same page.” Luckily, Hartley decided to take the project on and started filming David and Daniel’s incredible story, and Radcliffe became the executive producer.
The Documentary David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived
The three friends went on to create an amazing documentary for HBO entitled David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, which received fantastic reviews.
Allison Herman, Variety critic, wrote that it is “an attempt on Radcliffe’s part to use his fame to shed light on his friend’s story — and navigate the complex mix of guilt, motivation, and admiration spurred by the two men’s contrasting, interwoven fates.”
Not a Story of Tragedy, But One of Hope
When asked what David Holmes wants the audience to experience when watching the film he said, “Living for the hope of it all.”
He continued, “It’s a bit messy out there right now, isn’t it?” and “[Hope] is the first thing you should look for, and the last thing you should let go.”
A Film About Hope, Love, and Trust
David also said people should watch the film “just to see the collective support that allowed me to live my life and also what we can create when we all trust and love each other and are open.”
And he also said that “we should be more willing to share our vulnerabilities. It’s what makes us human, and no one should be ashamed of it in any way, shape, or form. It’s the scars of life that make us who we are.”
Everyone Should Watch David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived
Anyone who enjoys an uplifting documentary about friendship, love, life-changing moments, and real and lasting hope should watch David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived.
The documentary is available for streaming on HBO and Sky Documentaries and is certainly a one-of-a-kind film.
