Privacy: Daniel Radcilffe to star in Edward Snowden-inspired play

Privacy premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse in 2014 but is getting a US version this summer

Daniel Radcliffe will play The Writer under Josie Rourke's direction this July (Getty Images)

Daniel Radcliffe is set to play a lead role in a new off-Broadway production of Privacy this summer.

The English actor, best known for the Harry Potter franchise, will star as The Writer among a cast of seven playing the group of real-life journalists, judges, security experts and politicians who contributed their findings about online privacy and surveillance to the play.

Privacy, created by James Graham and Josie Rourke, debuted at the Donmar Warehouse in London in 2014 and will begin previews at New York’s The Public Theater in 5 July and run until 7 August.


 Whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked NSA documents to the press in 2013
 (Getty)

The play, inspired by Edward Snowden’s whistleblowing about government surveillance, has been widely talked about for its groundbreaking use of audience mobile phone data during performances.

Radcliffe’s part is reportedly “loosely modeled” on Graham, who wrote Finding Neverland, while deAdre Aziza, Raffia Barsoumian, Michael Countryman, Rachel Dratch and Reg Rogers have also been confirmed for the cast.

The 26-year-old has grown up in the public eye after playing Potter as a child, will likely have a wealth of personal experience to bring to the role. Radcliffe has starred on the New York stage before, in Broadway plays Equus, The Cripple of Inishmaan and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.