Wizard Week: Daniel Radcliffe’s Performance in ‘How to Succeed’ is Costing Warner Brothers a Fortune

Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed at the Al Hirschfield Theatre.

Daniel Radcliffe is currently starring on Broadway in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Al Hirschfield Theatre, and the reviews are in.  And although they aren’t exactly raving, they seem to be pretty good for our Harry Potter hero: 

• “[Radcliffe] conscientiously hits his choreographic marks, speaks his lines quickly and distinctly (with a convincing American accent) and often sings on key.”—NY Times

•  “In addition to his patented boyish charm, Radcliffe possesses deft comic instincts… his voice [is] pleasantly serviceable.  He’ll never match Hugh Jackman’s versatility, but there’s no shame in being a likable double threat.”—LA Times

•  “The still-boyish Radcliffe's butter-wouldn't-melt smile and ingratiating manner fit the bill nicely.  His voice is a little thin, but he does a capable job on Frank Loesser's songs, and while Ashford mostly entrusts the heavy lifting to the ensemble, Radcliffe more than holds his own in the boisterous dance numbers.”—Hollywood Reporter

• “Radcliffe, the 21-year-old Brit who spent half his life as Harry Potter before starring in Equus at the West End and on Broadway, has undergone a crash course in singing, dancing and mugging. Turns out he is proficient at the first, surprisingly adept at the second and especially good at the third.  While hardly the evening's only asset, the young actor shines as J. Pierrepont Finch.”—Variety

I only wish him a successful acting career in the future.  Maybe not more musicals, but other plays and hopefully more movies.  And I’m sure he’s having a blast singing and dancing on Broadway regardless of what other people say—except for maybe Warner Brothers.  The studio that brought us the Harry Potter franchise is a little upset with Daniel Radcliffe for accepting this role.  You see, the show will still be running when the final movie is released in July, meaning he won’t be able to promote it as he’s contractually obligated to do.

What a pickle!  He’s needed in two places at once! Warner Brothers asked the theatre if they could have Daniel Radcliffe for five days in July, but the theatre refused.  In the end, WB agreed to buy all the tickets in the house for those five performances in order for Radcliffe to be free to promote Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.  Let’s hope the movie makes tons of money, because it cost WB $500,000 just to have DanRad smile at premieres and do late-night talk shows!

Oh, what am I saying?  Of course the movie will make millions upon millions...