HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot is already stirring up controversy—and not just because of the magical casting. At the heart of it all is J.K. Rowling, the author of the original books, who’s been widely criticized over the past few years for her views on transgender issues. While some fans are excited to see the Wizarding World return to screens, others are questioning HBO’s decision to keep Rowling involved in the project.
Trying to clear the air, HBO’s CEO Casey Bloys addressed the backlash during a recent episode of The Town podcast. He made it clear that the Harry Potter series won’t reflect Rowling’s personal views. According to Bloys, the show is strictly about retelling the magical story—not making a political statement.
“This isn’t something new,” Bloys said, pointing out that HBO has been working with Rowling for over two decades. He reminded listeners that the Harry Potter franchise is a global phenomenon with eight blockbuster movies and several spin-offs. Basically, Rowling’s connection to HBO goes way back.
When asked about the criticism surrounding Rowling’s involvement, Bloys didn’t dodge the issue. “Harry Potter isn’t secretly being used to push an agenda,” he said. “If people want to argue with her, they can do it on Twitter.”
He also mentioned that Rowling is still working with HBO on another show, C.B. Strike, which airs in partnership with the BBC. So, according to him, keeping her involved with the new Harry Potter show isn’t anything unusual. He stressed that her political beliefs don’t influence how HBO makes its shows.
That said, Rowling did help choose some of the key creative leads, including Francesca Gardiner as showrunner and Succession director Mark Mylod. But Bloys insisted that her opinions haven’t affected any casting or hiring decisions for the series. HBO even released a statement to Variety emphasizing that while Rowling’s contributions to the franchise are valuable, the new show’s focus is on themes like friendship, courage, and acceptance.
Last month, HBO announced some of the big names joining the cast: John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. But not everyone is thrilled. Lithgow admitted that after his casting was announced, he got messages from friends—including an open letter—asking him to reconsider working on the show because of Rowling’s involvement. When asked if that gave him second thoughts, he shrugged it off. “Oh, heavens no,” he said in an interview with The Times of London. He did say he’d be curious to meet Rowling someday but made it clear the controversy didn’t shake his decision.
So, as filming begins, HBO seems to be walking a fine line: sticking by Rowling as the original creator, but keeping the new Harry Potter series focused on what fans love—magic, friendship, and growing up—not politics.
