Asa Butterfield, known for his roles in Sex Education and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, is set to make his stage debut in a new one-man play inspired by Harry Potter. The play, titled Second Best, follows the fictional story of a boy who narrowly missed out on playing the young wizard in the film series, and the impact it has on him later in life.
Butterfield, 27, described Second Best as “equal parts hilarious and heart-breaking, a universal tale of ‘what ifs’.” The play will run at Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios for a month starting on January 24, 2025.
The story revolves around Martin Hill, who at 10 years old was one of the final two contenders to play Harry Potter. Despite coming close to a role that could have changed his life, he was ultimately beaten by Daniel Radcliffe. Now an adult and about to become a father, Hill grapples with the emotions of missing out on instant stardom.
The play is not affiliated with the official Harry Potter series or endorsed by author JK Rowling. It is based on David Foenkinos’ best-selling novel of the same name and adapted for the stage by Barney Norris, with direction by Michael Longhurst.
Producer Simon Friend expressed that the story “immediately cried out to be told on stage” when he read it. Butterfield shared his excitement about the project, stating, “It really broke my heart, reading this play, and it made me laugh out loud, and I’m excited to bring that to life and make it my own.”
Fans of Butterfield can catch him in his first-ever theatre role in Second Best, following his successful run in the hit Netflix series Sex Education.
