Daniel Radcliffe will be producing a documentary about his former stunt double who was left paralyzed following an accident on the Harry Potter set.
The forthcoming movie titled David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is a coming-of-age story that chronicles the life of a skilled gymnast who formed a special bond with the 34-year-old star after working with him from 2001's Sorcerer’s Stone all the way to 2010's Deathly Hallows Part 1.
During the first of two cinematic parts based on JK Rowling's 2007 novel, the former stuntman was left paralyzed from the chest down with a debilitating spinal injury after an explosion that was part of a planned stunt sent him plunging to the ground.
A press release for the film notes that after Holmes' tragic incident, Radcliffe and his closest stunt colleagues mobilized to support him and his family in their time of need. However, it was the now-42-year-old's "extraordinary spirit of resilience" that became their "greatest source of strength and inspiration".
Holmes penned a heartfelt post on Instagram after news of the feature-length film was announced, writing: "Finally, the day has come. I can now share with you all the secret project and four years' hard work that has gone into creating this film: THE BOY WHO LIVED."
"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 of not just my achievements in front of a camera, but also the challenges I face every day, and my overall attitude to life after suffering a broken neck."
"In the turbulent world, we find ourselves living in right now, I would like to quote Harry, 'We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided,'" he continued. "I am only able to live because of the united love and support that I am fortunate enough to have had. And it is thanks to this love and support that I am able to share my journey with you all."
HBO shared more details regarding the empowering documentary, revealing that it will feature candid behind-the-scenes footage from the last decade of Holmes' stunt work, scenes of his current life, and personal interviews with him, Radcliffe, family, friends, and former stunt crew.
In addition to this, the movie will also reflect on the "universal themes of living with adversity, growing up, forging identities in an uncertain world, and the bonds that bind us together and lift us up".
The Hollywood star - who launched the Cunning Stunts podcast with ex-stuntman in 2020 - previously opened up about his friendship with Holmes in an interview with the Daily Mirror in 2017.
"I’ve got a relationship that goes back many, many years with Dave," he said in 2017. "And I would hate for people to just see me and Dave and go, 'Oh, there’s Daniel Radcliffe with a person in a wheelchair' - because I would never, even for a moment, want them to assume that Dave was anything except for an incredibly important person in my life."
David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived will premiere on HBO on November 15, at 9:00PM EST, before being made available to stream on Max.