To GeorgeusGirl: I don't think Dan should do a comedy. As someone said before; do you want to be taken seriously it's a great choice to do Equus. So this proves Dan is serious about acting. Doing a shallow comedy would not open many doors for him in the future. To be honest, I had not expected this of Dan. It is very brave of him to dare to take this role. I hope he will manage! If he doesn't - well, at least he tried.. Heh.

hmmmmm.......... interesting role......... i'm sure he'll do fine!! smiles for Dan!!!! :) :) :)

Frankly, I'm rather surprised at the mentality of the lot of you focusing soley on the possibility of Dan performing nude. Nudity is not the focus of this play, rather the complexity of the human mind and what it is capable of doing. Although, the young fans would not understand that, it should be brought to your attention. I applaud Dan for taking on this part, this will do much for his acting and he will not be typecast by branching out.

Dan playing this role nude is not going to ruin his career. And he won't end up in porn films because of it, whoever said that. Like many have said before me, playing this role is a great oppurtunity for him, it will do far more for him than a comedy movie, if he plays it right of course. It'd be interesting to see how many younger fans tried to buy tickets, though ...

Way to go, Dan!!! I am glad he is looking into other projects, because Harry Potter won't last forever. I probably won't get to see the play because I live in the states, but it sounds really interesting. I'm a sucker for shows that are in regards to true stories and based on actual events. And I'm sure Dan will do an excellent job!!!! Actually the nude scene wouldn't phase me in the least, I'm not into Dan that way. I'm in my 30's.

Oh wow, that sounds like a really interesting role. I really hope I get to see it when it comes out! And the possibility of nakedness? Ummmm... I dunno... I doubt that Dan would do the naked thing.

Wow, disturbing*shudders*

About not crediting DR.co.uk -- we heard it from DR.com only. They emailed us about it, DR.co.uk didn't. What's the need to credit another site that got the same confirmation when they weren't our source? I don't see the logic. If WB tells the HP fansites something about the next film (a casting rumour, for example), are you expected to credit every single site that was given the information?

HAHAHAHAHA!!! do you know how hard i'm going to laugh if he has to be in the nude? i hope he doesnt do it though cuz he might ruin his life as a young respected actor...

In resoinse to leroy_jenkins666 Dan is 17 so will turn 18 in approximatly a year not 3.

For those of you who are not familiar with the play 'Equus', or who would like to have a synopsis of the play, go to http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/equus.html It is very infomative. Possibly after reading about the play, you can have a better understanding as to why Dan chose to accept the role. Another thing, this is NOT a movie as some are saying, rather a stage play.

There's nothing illegal with being a minor and appearing unclothed in the course of a theater production, the key question is whether the act is combined with sexual activity. That is the situation here. It seems very likely that clothing will be worn since 1) it's really questionable whether the conduct will be entirely lawful, and 2) such a scene would be a distraction from the plot. The performer involved is a "teen idol" of sorts and the audience's reaction would not be in keeping with the serious nature of the play.

sorry about typo *response*

Well im Glad he got the role ...l.wish it was a movie instead of a play though

i have read the synopsis and it as changed my opinion it is actually quite an emotional play.Thanks Hannah_at_Hogwarts

whoa...what a naughty role.. i couldnt hav imagined dan wud do that on stage lol but i guess he would. wudnt mind seein him nude tho

Mental images... But I am glad that he is taking on mature roles :]

I hope he won´t be nude. I don´t think that would be good for his acting career. it doesn´t make him a more respected actor if he jumps on stage without clothes. I don´t think he´s gonna do that. He is still Harry Potter and kids look up to him. i think it´s good that he acts in non-potter projects,too. but why did he choose this one? i´ve never heard of the play and the role seems very strange to me.

busy busy year. I don't know if I would ever be able to watch that play. the plot sounds really interesting, but that whole horse thing would be to much for me to watch and even think about really.

I've seen the movie version of Eqqus, very strange. Dan's character sings a lot of TV ad jingos.

cool?

Oh my gosh, reading all of the other comments just launched me into hysterics. He probably won't be nude, as I don't think they do that very traditionally in plays. And maybe he was attracted to the character of Alan because it's so different from himself. I mean, it's a difficult role, obviously, so maybe Dan feels it's time to challenge himself. Harry Potter, though challenging, is a tad more "normal" than this, so he's probably trying to grasp more acting opportunities that allow him to expand his acting ability.

As for the nudity, in the movie version the only nude scene involved Dan's character riding a horse in the nude (his character is insane).

Haha! Oh wow the first thing I did when I saw that was start laughing. I've never seen or read the play but I was in a play that made reference to it... and all I can do is picture the kid I was acting with picking up a fork and pointing it at me. And good for Dan for taking on the role. I hope he does well!

wow, of all the girls that would give anything to see dan naked...im not one of them, i actually prefer not to. but hmm i wonder....

btw, in my last comment, i wasnt only talking about his playing nude, but also the fact that he was playing an abusing, insane character. its just that the nudity is whats gettin the attention here :P

He's sed before that he wouldn't do nude stuff but u know, fingers crossed! The story sounds really random but interesting. Does anyone know where it's going to be performed?

I wonder, could we branch out from just that one aspect of the play? I have not read it but from what I have heard it sounds very interesting and and amazing as a study of the human brain under extraordinary circumstances, this scene just happens to be a part of it... Hurrah to Dan for getting versatile roles so early in his career, hope this is a foreshadowing of the rest of it!

lol I would love to see him naked but just in case you havent read the play or seen it or the movie of it beware. there is such thing as bad nudity - and this is very bad. In am interested to see how he is going to play this character in general.

I think every dan fan who read this and got to the nude section immediately thought, "where can i buy tickets?" it made me laugh

I agree to many of the other comments.. I do highly doubt that he will actually be nude. as that doesn't often happen in plays. And, as another note, the nudity isn't the highlight of this play. it's a twisted and complex peice of literature, as many have already said. and I fullheartedly support Daniel taking the opportunity to branch not only onto the live stage, but also to such a demanding role. Those who critizing this saying that it's "distrubing" yes, that is mainly the point, the character Daniel will be playins IS mentally distrubed. CNN did say something about their being nudity in the plot, but did not say whether Daniel would be nude. so don't get your hopes up too high... or get too disturbed by the thought.

Today's top stories are all about HEAT! Outside, we have blistering summer heat. Inside, we have Daniel Radcliffe in a hot stage role. I saw this stage play, and the audience was so quiet during the nude scenes that you could hear a pin drop. Of course, we were all on the edge of our seats, too. This role will be quite a stretch for our Dan, I hope he pulls it off (pun fully intended - teehee!).

I'm not sure I can imagine Dan nude and psychotic. Wait, yes I can.. The plot doesn't sound good actually, but that's probably not why everyone's going to see it.

oh, my god. nude. NUDE.

Yeah. Because everyone who takes a nude role in a play ends up doing adult movies. Sure *rolls eyes*

I really hope this play will be successful, and that Daniel will do a good job... But I am convinced he will. I read a little about the book "Equus" on the net, and it sounds like a good play-to-be. Good luck, Daniel!

I just saw this on CNN, and I _have_ to ask: Why in the world is this making national news? There are much more important things they could be focusing on right now than how a Harry Potter actor is expanding his resume. I hold a lot of respect for Radcliffe as an actor, and perhaps this is just a personal, biased thought, but I'm sure he knows what he's doing.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry. Before this week, I have never heard of Equus before, but it sounds pretty freaking intense. The thought of Dan playing a nude psychopath sounds sexy beyond belief!!!!!!!!!!! The part that really sucks is that I live in the states, and won't be able to see it!!!!!!!!!!!!! If he really is going to be naked I'm sure that it'll be done tastefully, so it won't ruin his career. He's a terrific actor, and it'll be interesting to see how he'll handle this.

Amen to nakedness.

ConCon and Audry,why would you laugh? that's really immature :S And he can be nude, but that doesn't mean the audience would see all his body. In that scene he's riding a horse, so people wouldn't see much. I read in the Daily Mail that the writer of the play saw Dan playing this character and he is very happy, so if the writer is happy then it's sure Dan can do a great job. In a way...his character is like a young Tom Riddle, killing all those horses, but then you start to ask yourself all these questions because, like the psychologist, the reader/audience is not sure he is bad, or why he has done all that, or if the psychologist should really change him...

so our dan is going to be simulating a nude scene, and "sexual ecstasy" on a horse, wow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jo will not go up to Dan and say "Sorry you can't be Harry anymore" no. She does not ban creativity and trying to break the mold... I would like to see these plays people are in, I wish they were broadcasted or put on DVD format...it sucks knowning great things are coming from London and such and others can't see it. Unless you go to London and see a play... Good for Dan spending his free time hiatus from HP to broaden his acting skills to the stage, a lot of actors crave the stage more than movies.

where i live it is all over the news and there talking like he is going to do it nude.on regis and kelly live they said he will be waving his"WAND"!i hope he wont do that nude espcially on a HORSE!!!

"who has blinded six horses with a spike" WTF? I wouldn't want to see Dan's pasty naked body either.

Mallowsweet_Fire, no-one is telling you have to see the play. I wouldn't want to read superficial and immature comments, and I still have to read what you write...

I read parts of this play when I took Drama in high school If he isn’t actual nude they’d likely wear a nude suite. Honestly I think it’s a good role for Dan to take, I never personnel liked it but that because I love horses and work with them and thought of someone abusing them in such a way even though its just a play make me rather sick . Dan is an actor its no different then if straight actor took a role in which their character was gay or lesbian, or their character was a cannibal. A good actor wants to do a variety of different roles. I doubt Jo would really care the majoirty HP fans wouldnt be seeing it anyways, not to mention its a mature play so i doubt parents will be brining their young children , even young teens too it I wonder what this will mean for HBP if Dan is doing this play early next year, many times when you sign to a play it’s at least 3 months. Heyman said it be out November 2008. I suppose they’d start filming it late 2007 and into early 2008

This ought to be intresting for all of us... Dan best be good. Top 150?! YESSS! Rofl.

i doubt he would be doing something like THAT. besides th e* clears throat * nude scenes it sounds interesting. is he like a murderer in it? hmmmmm.....

This will prove once and for all whether or not he can act. You can't do retakes live on stage... And the nudity? I doubt he'll be nude. I just hope that if he DOES go nude there won't be irritating fangirls in the audience wolf whistling him during a very serious and mature play...and trust me, some Fangirls do go that far.

I just watched CNN news -- they're reporting that he's doing the nude scene while riding a horse.