New details about Daniel Radcliffe’s new HBO documentary about how his Harry Potter stunt double became paralyzed while filming the series have been revealed ahead of the film’s release next month.
David Holmes was left paralyzed after suffering serious back injuries on a Harry Potter film set while rehearsing a flying scene that resulted in an explosion as he fell to the ground while working on the penultimate film.
After the incident during the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in January 2009 at the Leavesden film studios near Watford, he remained conscious but told crew members: ‘I can’t feel my legs,’ and was taken to hospital. as fears grew that he had suffered a crippling back injury.
HBO has released new details of the documentary, calling it a “coming-of-age story” about the Essex stuntman and how he formed an “inseparable bond” with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe over the next decade.
The film David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is being made by Sky and HBO Documentary Films to tell former actor David’s coming-of-age story about the teenage gymnast who developed a friendship with Harry on the film set.
Film: Daniel Radcliffe has signed on as executive producer for a documentary about his former stunt double who was paralyzed after an accident on a Harry Potter film set (Daniel, left, pictured with stunt double David Holmes)
Accident: David Holmes was rehearsing a flying scene with an explosion when he crashed to the ground while working on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Daniel, right, next to stunt double David (second from left) in 2009)
The synopsis reads: ‘The film is a coming-of-age story of stuntman David Holmes, a prodigious teenage gymnast from Essex, England, who is selected to play Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double in the first Harry Potter film, when Daniel is only eleven. .
Over the next ten years, the two form an inseparable bond, but in the penultimate film, a tragic accident on set leaves David paralyzed with a debilitating spinal cord injury, turning his world upside down. As Daniel and his closest stunt colleagues rally to support David and his family in their moment of need, David’s extraordinary resilient spirit becomes their greatest source of strength and inspiration.
‘Featuring candid personal footage shot over the past decade, behind-the-scenes footage of Holmes’ stunt work, scenes from his current life and intimate interviews with David, Daniel Radcliffe, friends, family and former crew, the film also reflects universal themes such as living with adversity, growing up, forging identities in an uncertain world, and the bonds that bind and uplift us.”
Footage from the past decade of David’s stunt work and personal life, as well as interviews with Daniel, friends, family and former crew, will show how David has grown since his accident, and how he deals with setbacks.
After news of the documentary’s release was announced on Tuesday, David wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s finally here. I can now share with you the secret project and four years of hard work that went into making this film: THE BOY WHO LIVED
Injured: After arriving on the ground, David remained conscious but told crew members, “I can’t feel my legs,” and was taken to hospital as fears grew that he had suffered a crippling back injury (pictured in 2009)
Proud: David took to Instagram after news of the documentary’s release was announced on Tuesday to share some heartfelt words
“Being a stuntman was my calling in life, and doubling Harry was the best job in the world. In January 2009, I had a stunt rehearsal accident that changed my life forever. This film tells the story not only of my achievements in front of the camera, but also of the challenges I face every day, and my general attitude to life after a broken neck.
‘In the turbulent world we live in now, I would like to quote Harry: ‘We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.’
“I can only live because of the united love and support I have been fortunate to have. And it is because of this love and support that I am able to share my journey with all of you.”
In 2009, David had rehearsed scenes for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but something went wrong when he practiced a flying sequence in a suit of armor.
An explosion, which was part of the stunt, caused him to fall to the ground.
A source told MailOnline at the time: ‘It is thought he was caught by the explosion and fell very hard to the ground.
“He told the crew members who went to help him that he didn’t feel anything from the waist down.”
David, who had worked as Daniel’s body double in all the Harry Potter films before his accident, was initially taken to Watford General Hospital A&E but transferred to a specialist spinal injury hospital when the extent of his injuries became clear.
It comes after Daniel recently broke his silence about a possible appearance in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
Expelliarmus: Daniel appeared in the first Harry Potter film in 2001 when he was just 12 years old (pictured in 2007)
Harry Potter back? It comes after Daniel broke his silence on whether he will appear in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series (pictured in March last year)
The iconic trio: Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel rose to fame after their roles as magicians occupied an entire decade of their formative years (pictured in 2004)
He told ComicBook.com, “My understanding is that they really want to start over, and I’m sure whoever makes them wants to put their own stamp on it and probably doesn’t want to have to figure out how to do that. let old Harry have a cameo in this somewhere.
‘I’m definitely not looking for it. But of course I wish them all the luck in the world, and I am very happy that the torch has been passed on. But I don’t think I have to physically go through it.’
In April, it was announced that a reboot series was in the works at Max, formerly HBO Max.
Each season of the show will focus on a book from the franchise and will span a ten-year period.
JK Rowling has been cast as executive producer of the show, alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.
David Heyman, who produced all the Harry Potter films, is currently in talks to executive produce.
Daniel was just 12 years old when he starred in the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and his career reached unprecedented heights.
David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is available from November 18 on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW.