20 Minutes ago in New York, Daniel Radcliffe was confirmed as...See more

In a casting decision that has shattered box office records before rehearsals even began, Daniel Radcliffe was just announced as the next actor to don the iconic mask in The Phantom of the Opera during a surprise appearance at the Majestic Theatre. The Harry Potter star, who has quietly been training as a classically trained singer for years, tore open his dress shirt to reveal the Phantom’s signature cravat while declaring, “Consider this my Howler to anyone who thought I’d spend my whole career running from wands.”

The production—helmed by Tony-winning director Sam Gold—will reimagine the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic as a “psychological gothic thriller” with Radcliffe’s Phantom portrayed as a “misunderstood genius” rather than a romantic antihero. Insiders reveal the actor insisted on learning to play the organ upside down (à la Deathly Hallows) for the lair scenes, while composer Webber is reportedly rewriting “The Music of the Night” to include a “Wizard’s Lament” verse. “Daniel’s voice has this raw, wounded quality that makes you believe he really did grow up in a dungeon,” Gold told The New York Times.

Broadway’s reaction was instantaneous: Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted “Well, there goes my dream role,” while original Phantom Michael Crawford admitted, “He’ll make that mask look like it was always meant for round glasses.” Potterheads have already crashed Ticketmaster’s website, with one fan group organizing a “Hogwarts to Opera House” march where attendees will throw paper airplanes instead of roses during curtain call.

Radcliffe begins performances this October, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Phantom’s Broadway debut. When asked how he’ll top flying on broomsticks, the actor deadpanned: “Wait until you see my chandelier stunt—Hogwarts never prepared me for this.” The production’s new tagline? “The Boy Who Lived… to Sing.”