"Black Mirror" director Ali Pankiw has revealed that she turned down the opportunity to work on the upcoming HBO series "Harry Potter" because of J.K. Rowling's views on gender.
Pankiv, who directed the 2023 Black Mirror episode "Joan Is Awful," posted a screenshot of a conversation with her agent on Instagram, who wrote: "I have a feeling the answer will be, but I have to ask. Harry Potter? A big no?"
"Absolutely f*cking no! Haha... (But thanks for asking)," Pankiv replied, to which her agent replied: "Of course... I assumed so... (And I agree)."
The Canadian director wrote alongside the post: "It's just this easy to say no to funding transphobia!" and later explained with a smile that the offer was for directing, not acting.
In the comments, the director of the series "Loki" Kate Heron revealed that she had also been offered a role on the series several times.
"I was asked twice and I had to explain that my answer would never change - no," she wrote.
Pankiwa's reference to "transphobia" refers to Rowling's views on gender and her public statements regarding the transgender community. The author will be an executive producer on the new HBO series, and her views have prompted calls for a boycott of the series, while numerous actors have been criticized for their participation in the project.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Nicholas Hoult would play Gilderoy Lockhart, after which some fans criticized him for accepting the role. Hoult has not yet publicly addressed the criticism.
Several other cast members distanced themselves from Rowling's views. Belle Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley, said she "strongly disagreed" with Rowling on the issue, adding that the transgender community deserves "safety, dignity, respect and full acceptance."
John Lithgow, who will play Albus Dumbledore, said he considered leaving the project after the criticism, but ultimately decided to stay. He described Rowling's views as "ironic and inexplicable", noting that the books themselves are "clearly on the side of good, against intolerance and prejudice".
Nick Frost, who will play Rubeus Hagrid, said that his beliefs "in no way, shape, or form" coincide with the writer's.
The HBO adaptation is planned as a seven-season series, with each season focusing on one of Rowling's original books. The first season, based on the novel "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," will premiere on HBO Max on Christmas Day.
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