HBO’s chief content officer has stressed that the new Harry Potter series is ‘not secretly being infused’ with any views when discussing JK Rowling’s beliefs, after immense controversy.
The highly-anticipated TV series has hit headlines after announcing six main cast members, including John Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall.
Luke Thallon will also be playing Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher Quirinus Quirrell, Nick Frost will take on the role of Hagrid, and Paul Whitehouse will be Squib caretaker Argus Filch.
Several fans of the original films, which starred Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, are planning to boycott the series after Rowling’s comments about the trans community, which have amplified following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.
Rowling, 59, has lost a huge number of fans and been involved in Twitter spats with several celebrities over her arguments, however, HBO’s chief content officer Casey Bloys has now claimed the upcoming TV adaptation will not be ‘secretly infused’ with anything.
‘The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. We’ve been in business for 25 years,’ Bloys said during an appearance on The Town podcast, when asked if he ‘worries’ about her transgender views.
‘We already have a show on HBO from her called C.B. Strike that we do with the BBC.
‘It’s pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She’s entitled to them.
‘Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything.
‘And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.’
According to Variety, at a press event last year, Bloys said that Rowling was ‘very, very involved in the process selecting’ the showrunner and director leading the Harry Potter series.
He also said that her anti-trans statements ‘haven’t affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff’.
A spokesperson for HBO added in a statement that Rowling’s ‘contribution’ to the larger Warner Bros. Discovery company 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,’ it 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.’
What did JK Rowling say?
In 2020, Rowling expressed her views on an article which referred to ‘people who menstruate’, questioning why the term ‘women’ was not used.
She then went on: ‘If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.
‘The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women—i.e., to male violence—‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences—is a nonsense.
‘I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.’
Her comments led to a wave of backlash with people branding the writer transphobic and explaining that it’s not just cis-gender women who menstruate, while many who were once fans of Rowling’s work saying they’d now distanced themselves from the author.
Meanwhile Radcliffe shared in a statement: ‘ feel compelled to say something at this moment. Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.’
He added: ‘It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.’
Watson shared on X: ‘Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you, and love you for who you are.’
And Grint told The Times: ‘I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men.’
Stars including Bonnie Wright and Evanna Lynch have also spoken out in support of the transgender community.
Several members of the Harry Potter movie cast have been critical of Rowling’s views on trans people including lead actors from the original films Daniel and Emma, while others like Miriam Margolyes and Ralph Fiennes have defended her.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav addressed the future of the Harry Potter TV show, revealing the intention for it to air for a whole decade.
‘When we launch Harry Potter in a year, a little over a year, we’ll have 10 consecutive years of Harry Potter, and be able to amortize that globally, around the world,’ he said, according to sports media outlet Awful Announcing.
The drama is expected to launch in 2026 or 2027.
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