The Real Reason ‘Harry Potter’ Star Daniel Radcliffe Got So Buff

Since first being introduced to audiences around the world as the titular young wizard in the Harry Potter movies, Daniel Radcliffe has shown his acting chops in a wide variety of roles on stage and on screen. From Allen Ginsberg to “Weird Al” Yankovic, the British actor has seemingly done it all—except for appearing in a Marvel movie. 

Radcliffe has undergone quite the physical transformation in recent months, causing some to speculate that he’s bulking up for a superhero role, namely Wolverine. But in a new interview with Vanity Fair, Radcliffe confessed just why he’s changed his physique so drastically. 

“I got buff because I am obsessive, and I want to,” he said honestly. “You’ve seen my parents. They’re like insane fitness people. So that’s just been passed on.” The actor has been open about living with and seeking treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder for over a decade. 

In other words, he won’t be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe any time soon. “No Wolverine,” he stated plainly. “Flattered, but no.” 

It’s not the first time he’s been floated as a possible choice to introduce the X-Men into the MCU. As for why his name always comes up in these conversations, he coincidentally thinks it has to do with his physical build. 

“This is something that has come up every so often for the last few years and every time it comes up I’m like, ‘That’s not true, there’s nothing behind that’ and everyone’s like, ‘Ah, he said it might be true!'” the actor told Jimmy Fallon last year. “I think it’s because Wolverine in the comics is fairly short—I think it’s people going, ‘Who’s a short actor? Him! He could maybe play him!'”

For now, Radcliffe is busy on Broadway with his role in the beloved Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along, perhaps as thematically distant from the MCU as possible.