Just a few months after HBO stated a “[commitment] to inclusive, diverse casting” for the Harry Potter TV reboot, the network has confirmed proudly transphobic creator J.K. Rowling has been “very involved” in the beginnings of the project and lauded the author for her “invaluable” contribution.
Rowling has been expressing anti-trans views dating back to at least December 2019 and hasn’t looked back since releasing a 3,600-word transphobic manifesto in June 2020. In the aftermath of the note, all three principal Harry Potter actors — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint — spoke out against Rowling’s comments.
Harry Potter fan sites MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron also denounced Rowling’s beliefs, all of which led to Warner Bros. responding with a statement that “a diverse and inclusive culture has never been more important to our company and to our audiences around the world.”
And just today, Rowling dismissed the City of Edinburgh Council’s social media post marking the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Apparently, the criminal complaint filed by Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif this past August did little to shake Rowling’s resolve.
Yet, HBO’s chief content officer Casey Bloys told reporters earlier this month that Rowling was “very, very involved in the process of selecting the writer and the director” for the upcoming TV series and added that her anti-trans statements “haven’t affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff.”
More recently, a network spokesperson issued a statement to Variety citing Warner’s “over 20 years” of working with Rowling, adding that “her contribution has been invaluable.”
“We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter — the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve, and acceptance,” the statement continued. “J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”
Meanwhile, Rowling has barely promoted the series since sharing the open casting call flyer for the central roles in the series on September 10th. Instead, her social media timeline has been characteristically littered with posts focused on her anti-trans agenda.
While there’s no release date set for the Harry Potter series, Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner, with fellow Succession alum Mark Mylod attached to direct multiple episodes.