The wizarding world of Harry Potter has been at the forefront of many fans’ minds since HBO announced its seven-season adaptation of the beloved books.
From casting rumors to worries that the show will cloud fans’ love for the original films, fans have been speculating.
The HBO series will reportedly cost more than $200 million per season, and filming will start this year in the U.K.
Rowling, the controversial author of the ‘Harry Potter’ saga, is working as an executive producer on the show.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint became global stars at a young age through their leading roles in the Harry Potter film series.
The success of J.K. Rowling’s novels brought the trio to the big screen, and they spent much of their youth portraying the iconic characters.
In recent years, however, the actors have publicly distanced themselves from Rowling, largely due to controversy surrounding her views on sex and gender.
The situation began in 2020 when Rowling shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) that referenced an op-ed using the phrase “people who menstruate.” Rowling expressed frustration that the term “women” was not used instead.
“‘People who menstruate,’” she wrote. “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
She later added: “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.”
Radcliffe has previously expressed hope that Rowling’s comments wouldn’t overshadow the magic of the movie series for fans.
In a statement shared through the LGBTQ+ suicide prevention organization The Trevor Project, he said:
“I understand that some media outlets might try to frame this as a conflict between J.K. Rowling and me, but that’s not what this is about—nor is it what matters most right now.
“Jo has undeniably shaped the direction of my life, and I’m deeply grateful for that. But as someone who has been privileged to work with The Trevor Project for over a decade, and simply as a fellow human being, I feel a responsibility to speak up.
“Trans women are women. Any assertion otherwise undermines the identity and dignity of transgender individuals and contradicts the guidance of major healthcare organizations—who know far more about this subject than either Jo or myself.”
J.K. Rowling recently appeared to throw shade at Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in a social media post responding to a question about actors who “instantly ruin a movie.” Her reply: “Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible.”
According to a MailOnline TV industry insider, Rowling views the upcoming Harry Potter TV series as a fresh start.
“For J.K., this is a chance to move on from the original trio and build something new with an entirely different cast and fanbase,” the source revealed. “She sees this as an opportunity to move past the legacy of the old films. Just like with Superman or Batman, new adaptations mean new faces—and a chance to redefine the franchise from the ground up.”
