Black Mirror Director Ally Pankiw Says She Turned Down HBO's Harry Potter Series, Calling It 'Funding Transphobia'
Director Ally Pankiw, whose credits include Black Mirror and the film I Used to Be Funny, said she turned down a directing opportunity on HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television series — and shared the exchange publicly to make a point.
On 13 August 2026, Pankiw posted a screenshot of an SMS conversation with her agent on her official Instagram account. Her agent asked: "Harry Potter? Hard no?" Pankiw replied: "Absolutely fucking not! lol... (But thank you for asking)." She captioned the post: "It is simply this easy to say no to funding transphobia," and clarified the opportunity was for directing, not acting. Deadline
The objection is tied to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has been the subject of sustained criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates over her public statements on transgender issues. Pankiw, described by LGBTQ+ outlet Them as a queer writer and director, published a lengthy statement addressing Rowling's transphobia as far back as 2020, according to Them. Them
Pankiw was not alone. Director Kate Herron, whose work includes Loki and Sex Education, commented on the post: "They've asked me twice and I've had to explain my answer is never going to change from a no." Actor and comedian Vic Michaelis and actress Taylor Ortega also voiced support. The post had drawn 15 comments at the time of reporting. Deadline
The series Pankiw says she was approached for is a high-profile adaptation of Rowling's novels, produced for HBO. Rowling serves as an executive producer alongside Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films. The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is set to debut on Christmas Day and stream exclusively on HBO Max globally. Deadline
Deadline, which broke the story on 14 August 2026 in a report by journalist Jesse Whittock, said it had reached out to HBO for confirmation that Pankiw was on its list of directors for the series. Entertainment Weekly independently corroborated Pankiw's account. HBO's response, if any, has not been reported. Deadline
What makes the post resonate beyond a single director's decision is the chorus it drew. Herron's comment — that she was asked twice and refused twice — suggests the production's search for directors has crossed paths with at least a few filmmakers who see Rowling's involvement as a line they will not cross. Whether that affects the series' production timeline is not something any source has confirmed.
For now, the Harry Potter series remains on track for its Christmas Day premiere. Pankiw's Instagram post stands as a public record of one director's refusal, and an invitation to others to consider their own answers.
