Salaries of 'Harry Potter' TV series actors revealed
The child stars playing the roles of the original iconic trio could be multimillionaires before they've even turned 18.
'Harry Potter' is one of the most successful media franchises in history.
When the books were first released it garnered a cult following.
WATCH: HBO Max releases official teaser for 'Harry Potter' TV series
Later, it would also lead to the creation of the fourth-highest-grossing film series, with worldwide receipts of $7,7 billion.
This is even more impressive considering it had eight movies, while most of those above it on the list, 'Star Wars', 'James Bond' and 'The Marvel Cinematic Universe' have way more movies contributing to their total.
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Now, 'Harry Potter' is entering a new era with an HBO series set to run for over 10 years, and its three leading actors are also taking on roles that could define their careers.
Dominic McLaughlin portrays the role of Harry Potter (12), with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger (11) and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley (12).
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The teaser trailer for the first season dropped on 26 March, and also revealed that the official release date of the season covering the first book, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', is Christmas 2026.
The trailer isn't the only thing that has stunned audiences, as various publications have also calculated the estimated earnings of the child lead actors.
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According to The Sun and an industry insider, the young stars are set to pocket around £500,000 (R11,4-million) with their first paycheck.
This is a whopping payday for three kids who haven’t even hit their teenage years yet — and it’s just the beginning.
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If this is the case, and they manage to keep this up, they are set to become multimillionaires before they even get their licences.
Variety reported that the audition process saw over 32,000 children try out for the roles, and executive producer Mark Mylod and the casting team reviewed 500 - 1,000 audition tapes a day.
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While it might seem like an excessive paycheck for barely a teenager, they are about to become the three most famous children in the world and be the Radcliffe, Watson and Grint for a new generation.
Similarly to when Daniel [Radcliffe], Emma [Watson] and Rupert [Grint] were cast, their lives are going to change forever.
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How do the salaries compare to the original cast?
While they haven't been too outspoken about their earnings, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint earned around $1-million each for the first film.
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That went up exponentially as the films continued and grew in popularity with each release.
In 2012, Radcliffe spoke about his earnings in an interview with Parade and how ridiculous it was that he received so much income from the 'Harry Potter' franchise.
If somebody asked me, ‘Did you think you deserve that money?’ No, of course I didn’t. ‘But would you have taken it anyway?’ Of course.
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By the time production on the final films 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' began, Radcliffe was said to have earned £37,5-million for his work, with total estimated earnings, including residuals, around £96-million.
He also said he felt guilty "having done so well out of Potter" but that it's a sort of moral obligation to then use his platform and money for good: "You know, the fact that I wake up in my lovely apartment in New York and get to stroll down here and do a couple of shows, and there is somebody in some country waking up wondering where he’s going to live that week—it’s a horrendous feeling. There is a sense that you have to do something. You have to give back.”
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Watson and Grint also walked away with hefty paychecks but are keenly aware of the privilege that came with them.
Talking to Variety, Grint said, "It was hard work, but those movies have allowed us to pick and choose, which is just such a gift. Obviously, it doesn’t mean you’re always going to choose the right thing. But I do feel very lucky for that."
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Being so young during the 'Harry Potter' success also meant that the then children didn't really know how much they were making.
"By the third or fourth film, the money was starting to get serious. I had no idea. I felt sick, very emotional," said Watson in a Vogue interview in 2010, explaining that she had no idea how much she was earning until her dad sat her down.
Watch the trailer for the new series here:
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Image: Harry Potter Official Site/HBO Max