The upcoming Harry Potter TV show is already getting people riled up before it even airs in 2025. The new wizard on the block, Albus Dumbledore, will be played by none other than John Lithgow. In the meantime, Nick Frost voices Hagrid. The jubilation over the impact from these casting decisions is still being felt. Shadows of the legacy of the franchise remain, particularly through the trans-exclusionary lens of its creator, J.K. Rowling.
Lithgow recently received a link from a friend, directing him to a Book Riot article titled “An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter.” This article highlights the backlash actors may face for aligning themselves with a franchise that has become synonymous with controversy due to Rowling’s views on gender and transgender issues. Lithgow has admitted that this is likely to be his last large role. By the time the series concludes he’ll be nearly 90, and the program is planned to run a minimum of ten years.
Cast member Paapa Essiedu is already taking steps to prevent backlash. For this reason, he signed an open letter calling on the UK entertainment industry to protect trans lives. This forward-thinking step is indicative of the creative team’s recognition of the power of their participation in the comedic series.
Nick Frost, who in a role distinctly his own steps into the bearded shoes of Hagrid, reflected on his own singular experience getting cast. He thought he’d get the part if he just wrote down the word “Hagrid.” He reasserted that he “manifested” it by thinking very hard about it. Frost’s quip was certainly tongue-in-cheek, but he was careful to distance himself from Rowling’s position. He said, “I don’t agree in any way, shape or form” with her views.
As Variety reported, those casting choices are made after a summer of intensified concern for those actors’ public opinions on everything from race relations to the war in Ukraine. Emma Parkinson became well known from her stint in Graham Linehan’s “The IT Crowd”. The reality is that she has been the subject of a massive campaign against her for her association with Rowling. Linehan’s views on trans people are almost a carbon copy of Rowling’s, which made things worse for actors associated with him or with the franchise.
Fellow actors like Parkinson and her colleagues are not alone in feeling pressure to publicly state where they stand on issues of gender. This is particularly so, given how quickly public sentiment is turning. The Harry Potter series continues to be a deeply cultural touchstone. It now threatens to join the culture wars and become a battleground on identity politics and representation.
The obstacles posed by this unexpected new adaptation go far beyond solo actors. The broader implications for the entertainment industry are huge. As more performers publicly advocate for transgender rights and protections, they face potential backlash from fans who may disagree with their stances. As with any new series, bubbles will be burst by critics looking to weigh its artistic merits. It needs to politically and strategically walk the tightrope of social dynamics.