“Harry Potter” stunt double David Holmes tells the story behind his paralysis in an upcoming documentary.
“David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived,” an HBO original movie set to premiere next month, will include behind-the-scenes footage as well as conversations with colleagues, friends and loved ones, Variety reported.
The film, described as a coming-of-age story, follows teenage gymnast David Holmes from Essex, England, who was chosen as Radcliffe’s stunt double for the first “Harry Potter” film, HBO told Variety.
Holmes continued to work as Radcliffe’s stunt double until an accident on the set of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” the penultimate film in the series, “left him paralyzed with a severe spinal cord injury and turned his life upside down,” Variety reported.
“The Boy Who Lived”: The gift that Daniel Radcliffe’s “Harry Potter” stunt double David Holmes finds in paralysis
“David’s extraordinary resilience becomes the greatest source of strength and inspiration to those closest to him who stand by Holmes and his family in times of need,” HBO material obtained by Variety says.
Living with adversity, growing up, forming an identity in an uncertain world and the bonds that connect and build us are some of the themes of the film.
How to watch David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived
“David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived” premieres on HBO on Wednesday, November 15 at 9 p.m. ET. The documentary is also available to stream on Max.
Daniel Radcliffe has taken over as executive producer of the film, along with Holmes and a group of others from HBO and Sky Studios.
Who is David Holmes?
David Holmes is a former gymnast, stuntman and podcast host of “Cunning Stunts,” a podcast launched in 2020 featuring Radcliffe, the lead actor in Harry Potter.
According to IMDB, Holmes has worked as a stuntman in over a dozen well-known films, including The Golden Compass and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, including the seven Harry Potter films in which he appeared.
According to the Apple Podcasts website, the podcast series highlights and celebrates the work of our stunt coordinators and actors on set.
“I think there’s a myth about stuntmen that they’re just superhuman in some ways. When audiences see something really painful or horrific, they think it’s a visual effect or there’s a clever, safe way to do it. Often, that’s not the case. There’s no way to fake a fall down the stairs, for example. If you get hit by a car, you’re still going to get hit by a car, even if it’s going slower than it otherwise would. They find the safest way to do it, but it can still hurt,” Radcliffe told Variety when the podcast launched.
Holmes was seriously injured on the set of Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in January 2009 while filming a flying scene, considered one of the most dangerous stunts in the industry, the Mirror reported in 2014.
He was pulled backwards at high speed by a high-strength wire and thrown against a wall. He broke his neck and was left paralyzed.
“My first thought was, ‘Don’t call Mum and Dad, I don’t want to worry them,'” Holmes told the Mirror.
“I hit the wall and then landed on the mat underneath. My stunt coordinator grabbed my hand and said, ‘Squeeze my fingers.’ I could move my arm to grab his hand, but I couldn’t squeeze his fingers,” and that’s when he realized he had really done some damage.
Doctors told him he would be paralyzed from the chest down and would have limited mobility in his arms and hands.
“My first thoughts weren’t about not being able to walk anymore. It was all the other things, like not being able to dance or have sex anymore,” he is said to have told the Mirror.
Holmes spent months regaining his strength after his muscles atrophied.
“I could stand on my hands for half an hour and then suddenly I can’t sit upright in bed anymore.”
Despite the severity of his injury, Holmes is determined not to let his disability define him.
“My attitude to life has not been affected by the accident and I am still very determined and positive. I have not let it hold me back in life either and I still enjoy the race track days with my car, go on holiday with my friends and am now looking forward to starting a new career.”
Holmes had previously stated that the time he spent working on the Harry Potter films was an incredible experience.
“I loved it and working with Dan was an absolute pleasure. The cast and crew were like a second family and I’m still in touch with many of them to this day,” he said.
More: “Harry Potter” is making another big appearance. Find out why here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Documentary about ‘Harry Potter’ stunt double David Holmes is coming to HBO
