Two prominent television directors are making it clear that a trip to Hogwarts is not worth compromising their support for the trans community.
Ally Pankiw and Kate Herron have both revealed that they rejected opportunities to work on HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter adaptation because of J.K. Rowling’s years of anti-trans rhetoric.
It Really Is That Easy
Pankiw, who has directed episodes of Black Mirror and The Great and previously wrote for Schitt’s Creek, shared a screenshot of a refreshingly direct conversation with one of her representatives.
“I have an instinct on the answer, but I feel compelled to ask ‘Harry Potter? Hard no?’” the representative wrote.
“Absolutely f—ing not! Lol,” Pankiw responded. “But thank you for asking.”
The representative replied that they had assumed as much and agreed with her decision.
Pankiw explained her refusal in the caption, writing, “It simply is this easy to say no to funding transphobia!” She also clarified that she had been approached to direct, not act.
Herron, whose credits include Marvel’s Loki and Netflix’s Sex Education, applauded Pankiw in the comments and revealed that the Harry Potter team has approached her more than once.
“Respect and love to you Ally,” Herron wrote. “They’ve asked me twice and I’ve had to explain my answer is never gonna change from a no.”
Actors Who Have Spoken Out
Their comments arrive as HBO moves forward with its high-profile reboot despite continued criticism surrounding Rowling, who remains closely connected to the franchise. The author has repeatedly used her enormous platform to target trans-inclusive language, policies and organizations, making every new Harry Potter project part of a much larger conversation about who benefits when audiences and artists continue supporting the Wizarding World.
For Pankiw and Herron, the answer is simple: They want no part in helping expand it.
Not everyone associated with the series shares Rowling’s position. Bel Powley, who will play Petunia Dursley, recently spoke publicly in support of transgender people while distancing herself from the author.
“I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender,” Powley told The Telegraph. “I think that the trans community deserves safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”
John Lithgow, who will portray Albus Dumbledore, previously called Rowling’s views “inexplicable” and revealed he nearly walked away from playing Dumbledore. However, he recently told The New Yorker Radio Hour that some of her comments have been “twisted and misrepresented.”
Although Lithgow said he still disagrees with much of what Rowling has said, he ultimately decided the role and creative team outweighed his concerns. “I was urged to walk away, and I was not about to do that,” he said.
The cast also includes Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Nicholas Hoult has also signed on to portray Gilderoy Lockhart, according to Variety.
The series is scheduled to premiere Dec. 25 on HBO and HBO Max, with its first season adapting Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. A second season based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has already been announced.
