When people think of Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe is the first image that comes to mind, a young wizard walking across the screen with spellbinding bravado. Yet behind that magic stands a quiet pillar who helped make the performance possible: David Holmes. HBO Max collaborates with Radcliffe on a project that honors Holmes, the stunt double who played a crucial role in bringing the world of Hogwarts to life in the films. The documentary walks viewers through Holmes’s journey, highlighting the dedication and risk that storybook heroes often require on screen.
Hailing from Essex, England, Holmes built his career as a gifted gymnast who found himself in the expansive shadow of Radcliffe during the filming of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. For years, Radcliffe and Holmes shared more than professional space; a genuine bond formed between the two men. Yet fate touched their path during the filming of Deathly Hallows, when a tragic accident on set changed Holmes’s life—paralyzing him from the waist down and altering the trajectory of everyone around him forever.
The documentary’s narration confronts this difficult chapter not solely through Radcliffe’s point of view, but through David’s personal footage and candid conversations with close friends, family, and fellow cast members. Across its course, the film reveals lesser-known facets of the magical universe and honors Holmes’s resilience, courage, and relentless spirit in the face of adversity.
David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived not only recounts a man’s battle to rebuild his life after a devastating accident, it also casts a wider glow on universal themes—growth, identity, and the bonds that connect people. Directed by Dan Hartley, the piece stands as a tribute to community and the unsung heroes who help bring screen fantasies to audiences around the world.
Join the larger conversation about cinematic stunts and the lives behind them, a topic that has long fascinated fans and industry insiders alike. In a 2020 collaboration, Radcliffe and Holmes explored these stories further through a program that listens to stunt performers’ experiences and the choices they face in the name of storytelling. Radcliffe has spoken about the dangers and complexities that go beyond visual effects, emphasizing the bravery required on set.
The documentary is scheduled to premiere on November 15, a project co-produced by HBO Documentary Films, Sky Studios, and Lightbox/Ripple Productions. With executive producers Radcliffe, Holmes, and Hartley guiding the project, David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived promises to become a meaningful addition for dedicated Harry Potter fans and anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes world that shapes beloved cinematic moments.