Two Directors Turned Down HBO's Harry Potter Series Over J.K. Rowling's Trans Stance
TV director Ally Pankiw posted a screenshot on her Instagram account showing a text exchange with her WME representative in which she declined an invitation to direct HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series, citing J.K. Rowling's views on trans rights. In the exchange, her representative wrote: "I have an instinct on the answer but I feel compelled to ask 'Harry Potter? Hard no?'" Pankiw replied: "Absolutely f—ing not! Lol." Variety
Pankiw, a Canadian filmmaker who directed episodes of Black Mirror and The Great and was a writer on Schitt's Creek, added in a comment on the post: "It simply is this easy to say no to funding transphobia!" She clarified the approach was for directing, not acting. Variety
Director Kate Herron responded to Pankiw's post with her own account. "They've asked me twice and I've had to explain my answer is never gonna change from a no," Herron wrote, referring to the Harry Potter series. Herron is a British filmmaker whose credits include Marvel Studios' Loki and Netflix's Sex Education. Variety
The series they were approached for is one of HBO's most high-profile upcoming productions. It is set to debut on 25 December on HBO and HBO Max, with the first season adapting Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. HBO has already renewed it for a second season based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets — a straight-to-series order across both seasons, meaning no pilot episode was required to greenlight either. Variety
The cast so far includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Nicholas Hoult as Gilderoy Lockhart, and Bel Powley as Aunt Petunia. Variety
Rowling's statements on trans rights have followed the production at every stage. HBO stated in May 2025 that her comments had not affected casting, hiring of writers, or production staff decisions for the series. Variety
Some cast members have publicly distanced themselves from Rowling's positions while remaining attached to the show. Powley told The Telegraph: "I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling's views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance." Variety Lithgow, cast as Dumbledore, said of Rowling's trans statements: "I take the subject extremely seriously. She has created this amazing canon for young people…" Variety
The tension extends beyond the new series. Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films, said in August 2025 that a Harry Potter reunion is "never going to happen" due to Rowling's transphobia, and expressed pride in Daniel Radcliffe for publicly disagreeing with Rowling. The Hollywood Reporter Actor Andrew Garfield, not involved in the franchise, said in March 2026 that he continues to watch the Harry Potter films despite considering Rowling's anti-trans views controversial. Variety
Variety reached out to representatives for Rowling, Pankiw, Herron, and HBO for comment on the directors' rejections. Rowling's representatives declined to comment. No response was reported from the others. Variety
