With the announcement of JK Rowling’s new Harry Potter television series, one of the cast members has shared his perspective on the author’s views regarding the transgender community.
HBO has officially revealed the first six actors for the new TV version of the Harry Potter series. This adaptation will bring beloved characters to the small screen in a fresh light. The show, inspired by JK Rowling’s books, is planned as an eight-year series, with each season dedicated to one of her books.
Cast members announced include Nick Frost as Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, and John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore.
The series has faced scrutiny due to backlash over Rowling’s controversial statements over the years, yet the show’s cast has remained mostly quiet regarding the author’s views.
This has changed recently.
John Lithgow has spoken about his thoughts on his involvement in the series, Rowling herself, and the public’s response to his decision to take the role.
At 80 years old, Lithgow, known for his roles in projects such as How I Met Your Mother and Daddy’s Home 2, expressed his disappointment that some people close to him urged him to decline the role of Dumbledore. He made these comments during a screening at the Rotterdam Film Festival.
During the event, which was for his latest film, Jimpa, a queer family movie, Lithgow stated he takes issues of this nature ‘extremely seriously’, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. He also mentioned a personal acquaintance with a trans child who had sent him a letter with the title ‘An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter’.
“It was a hard decision,” Lithgow shared with the audience. “It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.”
Lithgow discussed his views on Rowling, who has faced criticism for her comments against trans-affirming pronouns and has been vocal about her position online.
He remarked: “JK Rowling has created this amazing canon for young people, young kids’ literature that has jumped into the consciousness of society. Young and old people love Harry Potter and the Harry Potter stories. It’s so much about acceptance. It’s about good versus evil. It’s about kindness versus cruelty. It’s deeply felt.
“I find it ironic and somewhat inexplicable that Rowling has expressed such views,” he continued. “I’ve read about them, and I’ve never met her. She’s not really involved in this production at all. The people who are re-adapting Harry Potter and turning it into an eight-year-long TV series are remarkable. … These are people I really want to work with.
“It upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to me having anything to do with this,” he further explained. “But in Potter canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She has written this meditation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.”