Credit: HBO/Warner Bros.You can’t go anywhere online these days without hearing about Harry Potter or J.K. Rowling. And anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock for the last few years will know that the iconic franchise is being rebooted as a TV series for HBO, and will also be aware that Rowling continues to get into heated rows on X (Twitter).
Recent weeks have seen HBO and Warner Bros. lock down 18 actors for their upcoming TV series, which is touted as a “faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s international best-selling novels, spanning seven seasons (one per book) over a 10-year period.
Who’s Been Cast in HBO’s Harry Potter So Far?
Among the 18 cast members announced are Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape), Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid), Katherine Parkinson (Molly Weasley), Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy), Johnny Flynn (Lucius Malfoy), Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter), Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger), and Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley). Click here to see the cast list so far.
J.K. Rowling Has Read the First Two Episodes
Now, with production underway, Rowling has revealed on X that she has read the scripts for the first two episodes of the Harry Potter series, whose release date has yet to be revealed.
“I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!” she wrote:
I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 21, 2025
When asked by a fan if she’s involved in writing the series, Rowling said in a reply, “No, but I’ve worked closely with the extremely talented writers.”
Rowling is only onboard as an executive producer. Francesca Gardiner (HBO’s Succession, His Dark Materials) is writer/showrunner and an EP, while Mark Mylod (HBO’s Game of Thrones, The Last of Us) will also executive-produce and direct multiple episodes.
Rowling’s Gender-Critical Views
It’s certainly refreshing to see Rowling take a break from the discourse she’s frequently involved in online, which centers on the ongoing trans issue.
The author has drawn plenty of criticism from trans rights activists, including celebrities like Doctor Who icon David Tennant (whose daughter is trans), and The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal (who has a trans sister), and, more recently, ’80s popstar/gay icon Boy George.
In recent years, Rowling’s gender critical views have divided the fanbase. Actors from the films, such as Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), have publicly condemned her views while showing solidarity with the trans community. Other actors, like Ralph Fiennes (Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), have defended Rowling against the online backlash.
However, recently, Sir Stephen Fry, British comedian, actor, author, and broadcaster who famously narrated all seven Harry Potter audiobooks, and a gay man and LGBTQ+ advocate who has been an ally of Rowling’s over the years, condemned her online behavior, describing her as “a lost cause” who has been “radicalized” by TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) and “hardened” by “the vitriol that is thrown at her” online.
He added: “She seemed to kick a hornet’s nest of transphobia that has been entirely destructive. I disagree profoundly with her on this subject. She says things that are inflammatory, contemptuous and mocking. They add to a terribly distressing time for trans people.”
Fry’s comments follow Jason Isaacs’, who said in a separate interview that he doesn’t “understand” who Rowling is online.
Will J.K. Rowling’s Views Jeopardize Harry Potter?
While HBO’s Harry Potter series will probably be a success, nothing is guaranteed, and there are many pro-trans Potterheads out there already calling for a boycott.
This follows a similar response to the open-world Harry Potter video game “Hogwarts Legacy,” which Rowling was not involved in but was still condemned by trans rights activists.
Either way, her views are unlikely to harm viewing figures. What is likely to negatively affect them is the fact that many fans aren’t thrilled by the idea of a reboot in the first place.
Are you excited about HBO’s Harry Potter, or will you be staying clear because of J.K. Rowling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!