Keira Knightley has publicly expressed her regret after being announced as a member of the voice cast for a forthcoming Harry Potter audiobook series.
At 40, Knightley is set to lend her voice to the character of Professor Umbridge in Audible’s new seven-part audiobook adaptation of Harry Potter. She will be joining a cast that includes Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore and Matthew Macfadyen who will voice Lord Voldemort.
The franchise’s creator, J.K. Rowling, is also contributing to the project as a producer through her Pottermore Publishing company in collaboration with Audible.
In recent years, Rowling has been at the center of significant controversy due to her statements regarding the transgender community.
Among the contentious actions, she ‘liked’ tweets that were critical of the transgender movement, later claiming it was an error. Additionally, she publicly supported the UK Supreme Court’s decision regarding the legal definition of a woman, a decision that excluded transgender women.
Rowling’s comments have resulted in backlash, including criticism from actors involved in the original Harry Potter films.
The franchise’s leading actors, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, have all expressed their support for the transgender community, with Rowling stating her disappointment in their actions, accusing them of supporting a movement that she believes undermines women’s rights.
As a result of these events, there has been a push by some to boycott the Wizarding World franchise. This is a subject Knightley addressed when speaking with Decider.
She remarked: “I was not aware of that, no. I’m very sorry.”
Knightley continued, “I think we’re all living in a period of time right now where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we?”
“And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect.”
Emma Watson also recently discussed her differing views with Rowling in an interview with Jay Shetty. She said, “I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with.”
She added, “I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish. To come back to our earlier thing – I just don’t think these things are either/or.”
Watson concluded, “I think it’s my deepest wish that I hope people who don’t agree with my opinion will love me, and I hope I can keep loving people who I don’t necessarily share the same opinion with.”