Cameras are now rolling on Harry Potter Season 2 (HBO's adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), and two prominent television directors have revealed they declined to work on the series due to J.K. Rowling's views on the trans community.
While it's unclear whether she was referring to the next batch of episodes or Season 1/The Philosopher's Stone, Black Mirror and Ponies helmer Ally Pankiw recently took to Instagram to share a screenshot from a conversation with her agent.
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, when her agent reached out to ask whether working on Harry Potter would be a "hard no," Pankiw responded by text, "Absolutely f***ing not! lol… (But thank you for asking)." The director captioned her post with, "It simply is this easy to say 'no' to funding transphobia."
Loki and Doctor Who director Kate Herron then chimed in, writing in the comments, "They've asked me twice, and I've had to explain my answer is never going to change from a 'no.'" Pankiw later praised her fellow filmmaker in an Instagram Story.
Herron directed the entire first season of Loki, which remains one of Marvel Studios' best-reviewed TV shows. She didn't return for Season 2, and clearly has no interest in going from the MCU to the Wizarding World.
As The Hollywood Reporter explains, "The 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."
Rowling's opinions on transgender issues have been a problem for HBO's Harry Potter from the start. While the writer continues to deny being transphobic, she hasn't shied away from sharing her opinions about trans women being allowed in spaces reserved for biological women and has celebrated legal and political developments opposed by trans-rights advocates.
Asked about Rowling's views last year, HBO boss Casy Bloys said, "The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. We’ve been in business for 25 years. 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."
The main cast of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO Max this Christmas.