Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Topics: Harry Potter, Hogwarts Legacy, Warner Bros
It’s official. A Harry Potter TV series is in the works at Max, formerly known as HBO Max. It’ll come as a surprise to no one that the announcement has been met with controversy for a number of reasons.
The “decade-long” series is set to faithfully adapt JK Rowling’s seven Harry Potter books and it’s believed that there will be at least one season dedicated to each book - and yes, the show will indeed feature a brand new cast. In recent years though, JK Rowling has come under fire for repeatedly making hurtful transphobic comments, leading several members of the original Harry Potter film cast to distance themselves from the author. As such, many fans chose to boycott the recently released Hogwarts Legacy, yet the game still proved to be a major commercial success. The stance against Rowling persists for plenty of fans though with many already vowing to boycott the show.
Take a look at the reveal trailer for Max’s Harry Potter TV series below.
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JK Rowling will executive produce the series. She didn’t have an active role in the making of Hogwarts Legacy but, of course, will have profited from its sales. As a producer on the show, it stands to reason that Rowling will reap a further wage outside of her regular profit intake. As such, many are calling on fans of the Wizarding World to boycott the show. Twitter user blmaden wrote, “Really hope people boycott HBO / HBO Max for deciding to fund JK Rowling’s bigotry.”
User ThetaSigma92 added, “Since it’s official now, f**k [WB Discovery] and I know I will continue to encourage others to boycott against them and JK Rowling as well as leak any and all info from stupid show at any chance I get for [your] disregard to transgender people,” while kingpapitriton wrote, “Boycott the transphobe.”
HBO chief Casey Bloys was asked by Variety if he was worried about the sentiment surrounding Rowling, and if this would affect the project, particularly if it causes high-profile stars to turn the series down. “No, I don’t think this is the forum,” he said, “That’s a very online conversation, very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into. Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That’s our priority - what’s on screen.” The TV show does not yet have an anticipated premiere date.