Daniel Radcliffe admits it feels "surreal" seeing the new child stars stepping into the Harry Potter franchise.

The 36-year-old actor became a household name when he first landed the titular role - which he played for a decade - in the Philosopher's Stone back in 2001, and he's been in touch with former castmates Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) about seeing a new generation take on the beloved characters in HBO's upcoming reboot.

He told PEOPLE magazine that they've been reflected on "how surreal [it is] to watch people starting off on that journey, all those years later".

He added: "We have all said, you know, you just see pictures of these kids and you just want to grab them and hug them.

"That's the impulse that I think that we, mainly, all have."

Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Tout and Arabella Stanton have joined the cast as Harry, Ron and Hermione respectively, and it's been strange for the original trio to see the casting announcement photos as well as shots from set.

Daniel added: "It's one of those where I think we all just know how the others feel, because we're also feeling it."

The actor - who has recently appeared on the stage in the likes of Merrily We Roll Along and Every Brilliant Thing, as well as new series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - has also reflected on his own experiences of being a child star.

He said: "When you're 11, and you're doing something, you're like, 'Of course, I'm old enough to do this -- I'm the oldest I've ever been.'

"But now when I meet 11 year olds, I am like, 'Whoa, that seems nuts.' It puts into perspective.

"Honestly, it makes me admire -- and I do tell them this -- but my parents, more than I was capable of doing at the time. Just going like, 'Wow, you got me through something crazy, and you did it with a huge amount of humour.' "