Daniel Radcliffe Says This Rock Band Is the Wizarding World’s Soundtrack

Daniel Radcliffe has played many strange and serious roles since leaving Hogwarts behind, but Harry Potter still follows him everywhere. Even after years of working in very different films, the actor has admitted that his connection to the character ran deeper than most fans realized. According to Radcliffe, the world of Harry Potter always felt darker to him than the music in the movies suggested.

Back in 2009, when the final Potter films were still being made, Radcliffe shared a surprising opinion about what kind of music really fit the story. In an interview with the Daily Record, he said the British rock band Radiohead felt like the true soundtrack to Harry Potter. At the time, Radcliffe was only 19 and fully immersed in the role.

He acknowledged that the idea might sound strange to most people. “If you asked people what band they associated with Harry Potter, Radiohead wouldn’t be the first that sprang to mind,” he said. Still, the connection made sense to him. “Funnily enough Radiohead’s albums could soundtrack the films.” He felt the band’s sound matched Harry’s inner world far better than a traditional fantasy score.

Radcliffe explained that Radiohead’s music helped him understand Harry’s emotions, especially as the story grew darker. “They’re so appropriate to the movies and to Harry’s emotions that it’s almost uncanny,” he said in the same interview. He pointed to albums like OK Computer and Amnesiac as perfect examples of the heavy mood that defined the later films.

For Radcliffe, Harry’s journey was never just about magic or adventure. He saw it as the story of a young person trapped in a fight he never chose. He compared that feeling to the tone of other British bands as well, including Manic Street Preachers and Hope of the States. “It’s kind of angry and epic,” he said. “It’s angry in the sense that your life is beyond your control and you are in the middle of this maelstrom of politics and power.”

That lack of control, Radcliffe believed, was central to Harry’s anger. “You have no control over that, and that’s where part of Harry’s anger comes from,” he explained. The music helped him tap into that frustration while filming.

There is also a small real-life link between Radiohead and the Harry Potter films. Band members Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway appeared briefly as musicians during the Yule Ball scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a detail many fans missed.

Today, Radcliffe is known for choosing unusual and challenging projects, from Swiss Army Man to Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. He continues to support independent music and is active in charity work, including causes tied to youth literacy and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Harry Potter world itself is also returning to the spotlight. Warner Bros. is preparing a new HBO series set to premiere in 2026. While Radcliffe is not expected to appear in the reboot, he has publicly supported the new cast. His journey from child star to respected character actor remains one of the most successful career shifts in modern Hollywood.

  What’s your take on Daniel Radcliffe’s idea for a Harry Potter soundtrack? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!