August 21, 2000. Burbank, California. Warner Bros. Pictures issued a press release that would change the lives of three ordinary British kids—and millions of readers around the world.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, then President of Worldwide Theatrical Production at Warner Bros., made the official announcement: Daniel Radcliffe would play Harry Potter, Rupert Grint would play Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson would play Hermione Granger in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
“These are magical roles, the kind that come around once in a lifetime,” di Bonaventura said, “and they required talented children who can bring magic to the screen.” He added that the studio had “searched through all Muggle and Wizard households to find just the right young people… and we have found them in Dan, Rupert and Emma.”
Director Chris Columbus described the exhaustive search: thousands of children auditioned. For Harry alone the process felt endless at times. Then Radcliffe walked into the room. “We all knew we had found Harry,” Columbus recalled. J.K. Rowling herself approved after seeing the screen test: “I don’t think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry.”
Producer David Heyman called the three “tremendously talented British kids who will bring so much to the film,” stressing the production’s commitment to remaining true to the books.
At the time, Radcliffe (11) had a few credits, including the BBC’s David Copperfield. Grint (nearly 12) and Watson (10) were complete newcomers whose experience consisted mainly of school plays. A few days later they faced the press for the first time—nervous, excited, and already forming the easy chemistry that would define the franchise.
Twenty-six years on, the announcement still feels like the moment the wizarding world stepped off the page and onto the screen. Those three children grew up in front of us across eight films, becoming global stars while remaining, in the eyes of fans, forever the Golden Trio.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s straightforward corporate announcement that day carried more magic than anyone could have predicted. It launched one of the most successful film series in history, introduced a generation to Hogwarts, and turned three young actors into household names.
On this August 21, we raise a butterbeer to that press release, to the executive who delivered the news, and to the three kids who answered the call. The Boy Who Lived—and his two best friends—were officially on their way.
Mischief managed.
