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Not everyone wants to climb aboard the Hogwarts Express, it transpires.
Top TV director Ally Pankiw has posted on Instagram a screenshot from a text exchange with a rep in which she scoffed at the notion that she would
consider enrolling with HBO’s forthcoming series adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” novels.
The reason? Rowling’s views on trans persons’ rights, which many have alleged are transphobic.
The Canadian filmmaker, who’s helmed multiple episodes of “Black Mirror” and “The Great,” and was a writer on “Schitt’s Creek,” commented on the post, “It simply is this easy to say no to funding transphobia!,” adding, “Also this was for directing, not acting… obviously lol.”
In the screenshot of the text messages, a representative for Pankiw (who is repped by talent agency WME), asks: “I have an instinct on the answer but I feel compelled to ask ‘Harry Potter? Hard no?’”
Pankiw shoots back, “Absolutely f—ing not! Lol.” And she adds, politely, “But thank you for asking.”
The representative responds, “Of course :) I assumed as much (And agree).”
Another leading TV director, Kate Herron, whose credits include Marvel Studios’ “Loki” and Netflix’s “Sex Education,” shared that she had a similar experience.
Commenting on Pankiw’s Instagram post, preceded by three hearts, the British filmmaker says, “Yeah thank you exactly! Respect and love to you Ally. They’ve asked me twice and I’ve had to explain my answer is never gonna change from a no.”
That said, the roll call of actors joining the show grows ever longer. This week Nicholas Hoult signed on to play Gilderoy Lockhart.
Other cast members include John Lithgow, who plays Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore, Janet McTeer, who is Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu plays Snape, Bel Powley is Aunt Petunia, and Nick Frost has been cast as Rubeus Hagrid.
Powley, for her part, recently spoke of her disagreement with Rowling’s views on trans rights. “I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender,” Powley told The Telegraph. “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”
The series is due to debut on Dec. 25 on HBO and HBO Max, with the first season adapting the first book in the novel series, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” The show has already been renewed for a second season, which will be based on “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”
Variety reached out to reps for Rowling, who declined to comment, Pankiw and Herron, as well as HBO.
