I would have never expected this, but Bobby Moynihan, yes, of Saturday Night Live fame, was a part of a significant Harry Potter moment for Daniel Radcliffe. However, the comedian hilariously could contribute nothing to it. Radcliffe was hosting an episode of the comedy show, and realized a Potter-based sketch may have been his final performance as the titular character. Now, the former SNL star has shared the story behind what happened, and why he felt the way he did in the moment.
Moynihan is currently working alongside Radcliffe in The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins (which you can stream with a Peacock subscription), so the fact a Potter story might come up is not that unusual, and he talked about his co-star during an appearance on the Daily Beast's Obsessed podcast. He and Radcliffe were working on a sketch where Harry Potter returned to Hogwarts, trying to relive his glory days, and the moment got a little heavy:
We were rehearsing and I was just kind of looking at him and I was like, 'Are you ok, man?' He just looked a little in the zone...He's like, 'I think this might be the last time I'm dressed as Harry Potter ever.' I was dressed as Hagrid, and I just put my hand on his shoulder and went like, 'That's crazy. I'm not familiar with these films. I think you're going through something amazing right now. I'm glad I'm here with you. But, I did not watch these movies.'
If Daniel Radcliffe were looking for someone who understood the gravitas of what it meant to play Harry Potter for the last time, Bobby Moynihan was not the person. Of course, he undoubtedly knew of the franchise and how beloved the movies were, but as he went on to say in the podcast, a true fan might've died to be in that same position.
I know the quote may make it seem like Daniel Radcliffe might've had second thoughts about Saturday Night Live being his final Harry Potter portrayal, but the actor has famously rejected the idea of returning to the role. Now, with a new HBO series on the way, the odds of him reprising the role feel slim to none, though he's joked about playing other characters in the show.
Context is always important, however, and I need to point out that this Saturday Night Live sketch aired in January of 2012. It was close to six months after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, which makes it feel much more impactful. It also explains the potential pressure Bobby Moynihan felt, and why he felt obligated to bring up that he never saw the movies. I'm curious if he'll be tuning in with others to watch the series when it is available with an HBO Max subscription.
As mentioned, readers can catch up on The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins on Peacock (which is also where you can see old episodes of SNL). It's one of my favorites on the 2026 TV schedule, and worth a watch for anyone who still hasn't checked it out!
