Fresh details about Daniel Radcliffe’s new HBO film about how his Harry Potter stunt double was left paralysed while filming are revealed ahead of documentary’s release next month

Fresh details about Daniel Radcliffe’s new HBO documentary about how his Harry Potter stunt double was left paralysed while filming the series have been revealed ahead of the film’s release next month.

David Holmes was left paralysed after suffering serious spinal injuries on a Harry Potter film set when he was rehearsing a flying scene involving an explosion when he plummeted 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 paralysing back injury.

HBO have released new details of the documentary, calling it a ‘coming-of-age story’ about the stuntman from Essex and how he formed an ‘inextricable bond’ with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe over the next decade.

Film David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is being created by Sky and HBO Documentary Films to tell former actor David’s coming-of-age story of the teenage gymnast who developed a friendship with Harry on the movie set. 

Film: Daniel Radcliffe has signed up as an executive producer on a documentary about his former stunt double who was left paralysed 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 involving an explosion when he plummeted to the ground while working on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Daniel, right, alongside 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 just eleven.

READ MORE: Daniel Radcliffe to executive produce documentary about his stunt double who was paralysed in horror Harry Potter film set accident

‘Over the next ten years, the two form an inextricable bond, but on the penultimate film a tragic accident on set leaves David paralyzed with a debilitating spinal 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, it is David’s extraordinary spirit of resilience that becomes their greatest source of strength and inspiration.

‘Featuring candid personal footage shot over the last decade, behind-the-scenes material from Holmes’ stunt work, scenes of his current life and intimate interviews with David, Daniel Radcliffe, friends, family, and former crew, the film also reflects 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.’

Footage shot over the last 10 years 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 copes with adversity.

Taking to Instagram after news of the documentary’s release was announced on Tuesday, David wrote: ‘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

Injured: After David his the ground 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 paralysing 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 of not just my achievements in front of 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”.

‘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.’

In 2009, David had been rehearsing scenes for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but things went wrong as he was practicing a flying sequence in a harness.

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 may have been caught by the explosion and hit the ground very hard.

‘He told crew members who went to help him he couldn’t feel anything from the waist down.’

David, who had worked as Daniel’s body double on all the Harry Potter films before his accident, was initially taken to A&E at Watford General Hospital, but transferred to a specialist spinal injury hospital when the extent of his injuries became apparent.

It comes after Daniel recently broke his silence on a possible appearance in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

Expelliarmus: Daniel appeared in the first Harry Potter film back in 2001 when he was just 12-years-old (pictured in 2007)

Harry Potter returns? It comes after Daniel broke his silence on whether he will be appearing in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series (pictured in March last year)

The iconic threesome: Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel shot to fame after their roles as wizards went on to encompass a whole decade of their formative years (pictured in 2004)

He told ComicBook.com: ‘My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh, and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere.

‘I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world, and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.’

It was announced in April that a reboot series was in the works at Max, formerly HBO Max.

Each season of the show will be focused on a book from the franchise and will run over a decade long period.

JK Rowling has been given a role as executive producer on the show, alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.

David Heyman, who executive produced all the Harry Potter movies, 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 was launched to immeasurable heights.

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is available on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW from November 18.

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