{"id":5279,"date":"2026-08-14T14:37:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T14:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uspropertymoves.com\/?p=5279"},"modified":"2026-08-14T14:37:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T14:37:25","slug":"black-mirror-director-says-she-rejected-hbos-harry-potter-absolutely-fing-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uspropertymoves.com\/?p=5279","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Black Mirror\u2019 Director Says She Rejected HBO\u2019s \u2018Harry Potter\u2019: \u201cAbsolutely F***ing Not\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tTwo directors revealed on social media that they declined opportunities to direct episodes of HBO\u2019s upcoming Harry Potter<\/em> TV series over author J.K. Rowling\u2018s trans views. <\/p>\n

Read more Critics Pick Summer TV\u2019s Beauties and Bores<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tFirst, writer-director Ally Pankiw (Black Mirror<\/em>, Ponies<\/em>) took to Instagram to post a screenshot of an apparent text-message exchange with her agent where she was asked if she would be interested in the high-profile fantasy series. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI have an instinct on the answer but I feel compelled to ask,\u201d the unnamed agent wrote. \u201cHarry Potter<\/em>? Hard no?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPankiw shot back: \u201cAbsolutely fucking not! lol\u2026 (But thank you for asking).\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tTo which the agent replied, \u201cOf course \ud83d\ude42 \u2026 I assumed as much\u2026 (And agree).\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tPankiw added in the comments: \u201cIt simply is this easy to say \u2018no\u2019 to funding transphobia.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tThe post inspired director Kate Herron (Loki<\/em>, Doctor Who<\/em>) to write in the comments, \u201cThey\u2019ve asked me twice and I\u2019ve had to explain my answer is never going to change from a \u2018no.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPankiw added in her Story, \u201cAlso want to shout out the amazing @herronthatkate who also said \u2018no\u2019 \u2026 twice! And that\u2019s actually hard!\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tThe disclosures mark a rare instance of prominent behind-the-scenes creatives revealing they turned down a major upcoming studio production to protest a person involved in the project. An HBO representative for the show had no immediate comment. <\/p>\n

\n\tFranchise creator and executive producer Rowling\u2019s views on transgender issues have been an issue for HBO and the show\u2019s talent since the series was announced. While Rowling has long denied that she is transphobic, she regularly posts anti-trans rhetoric and has celebrated legal and political developments opposed by trans-rights advocates. <\/p>\n

Read more Christine Vachon Jokes She Likes Pedro Pascal Better Than Joaquin Phoenix in Todd Haynes\u2019 \u2018De Noche\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tSeveral actors on the show have spoken out against Rowling. Bel Powley, who plays Potter\u2019s aunt Petunia Dursley in the highly anticipated series, told The Telegraph<\/em> in an interview published on Monday, \u201cI strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling\u2019s views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPowley then added, \u201cBut I love Harry Potter<\/em>. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNick Frost, who plays the Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid, said last year, \u201cShe\u2019s allowed her opinion and I\u2019m allowed mine, they just don\u2019t align in any way, shape or form.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tJohn Lithgow, who plays headmaster Albus Dumbledore, has given somewhat conflicting statements on the topic. In April of 2025, he told The Times<\/em> UK, \u201cWhy is this a factor at all?\u201d and, when asked if her stance on trans rights gave him any pause about accepting the role, replied, \u201cOh, heavens no.\u201d After receiving backlash for those comments, he called Rowling\u2019s stance \u201cironic and inexplicable\u201d in February at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. But then Lithgow made headlines again in April saying Rowling\u2019s views had been \u201ctwisted and misrepresented.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tPaapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape in the series, signed an open letter supporting trans rights in the U.K. last year. Responding to an article speculating that she would \u201cfire\u201d the actor from the show, Rowling posted, \u201cI don\u2019t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn\u2019t exercise it if I did. I don\u2019t believe in taking away people\u2019s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen asked about Rowling last year, HBO chief Casey Bloys told The Town<\/em> podcast, \u201cThe decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. We\u2019ve been in business for 25 years\u201d \u2014 referring to Warner Bros.\u2019 long relationship with Rowling through the film franchise. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She\u2019s entitled to them.\u00a0Harry Potter<\/em>\u00a0is not secretly being infused with anything. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tThe first season of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone<\/em>, premieres Dec. 25 on HBO. <\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Sentimental Value\u2019 Screenwriter Gets Backing For Next Directorial Feature<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Directors Ally Pankiw and Kate Herron posted on social media that they turned down the HBO Harry Potter series over J.K. 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