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HBO Hit With Backlash After Defending JK Rowling's Role In Reboot Series Of 'Harry Potter'
On Wednesday, it was announced HBO Max and Discovery+ would be uniting to form a new streaming service called Max as a result of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
The announcement also confirmed previous whispers that Harry Potter will be adapted into a Max Original streaming series, set to span over the course of a decade.
Also confirmed was the role of the problematic HP series' author J.K. Rowling as executive producer.
Immediately after the announcement was made, fans rushed to social media to share their thoughts on the decision, especially given Rowling's well documented history of racism and more recent incessant and unapologetic display of transphobia on social media.
Seemingly anticipating further criticism and responding to the already-garnered backlash, HBO CEO Casey Bloys explained:
"J.K. is an executive producer, and her insights will be helpful. We are in the Harry Potter business."
"The TV show is new and exciting, but we've been in the Harry Potter business for 20 years; this isn't a new decision."
"We're comfortable being in the Harry Potter business."
Boys also argued that his priority is "what's on screen," separate from the "complicated... online conversation" surrounding Rowling.
"J.K. is a very online conversation."
"It's very nuanced and complicated and not something we're going to get into."
"Our priority is what's on screen."
In contrast to Rowling's online messages, however, Bloys stated, "The 'Harry Potter' story is incredibly affirmative and positive about love and acceptance..."
Those who learned of Rowling's role for the new series expressed their disappointment of HBO's decision.
\u201c@Variety So HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys is a transphobe too, got it! Claiming rhetorical neutrality is siding with the oppressor, and he put his money where his mouth is already by paying TERF J.K. Rowling to adapt her "Harry Potter" series for TV. He chose money over human rights.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
\u201c@Variety Adapting every single "Harry Potter" book into at least one season of TV each is basically committing to a decade-long relationship with TERF J.K. Rowling. You don't do that if you're remotely open to accepting that trans men are men and trans women are women, and that...\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
\u201cThey\u2019re remaking Harry Potter again either because they\u2019re not creative enough to come up with new ideas that\u2019ll sell and/or because Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson all spoke out against JK Rowling\u2019s transphobia and she doesn\u2019t want them associated as the leads.\u201d— Barra (@Barra) 1681323312
\u201c@Variety Well, my priority is not giving more money to a bigot. To each their own I guess. \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
\u201c@Variety This is appallingly horrible and cowardly.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
\u201cjk rowling realizing a new "faithful" harry potter adaptation would have to include a black girl being in the wrong for saying slavery is bad\u201d— Neb | \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Neb | \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1681330331
\u201cRowling\u2019s comments on trans people have been quoted in legislatures that have gone on to restrict trans rights. It\u2019s gone a hell of a long way from \u201cvery online,\u201d and I hope they wind up losing money on this project\u201d— Louisa \ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udc6d (@Louisa \ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udc6d) 1681334353
\u201c@Variety Guess what - the priority of quite a few people is fighting anti-trans bigotry.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
\u201c@azalben Yuck. Tantamount to rewarding transphobia. Write/complain to HBO.\u201d— Alex Zalben (@Alex Zalben) 1681322235
\u201c@Variety \u201cOur priority is what\u2019s on the screen."\n\nSo badly written neoliberal propaganda about how you only need the right people in power, fat shaming, bigotry and the so called good guys defending slavery. Wow what a win.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
\u201c@Variety this isn't complicated or nuanced \u2013\u00a0trans people deserve the right to live free from harassment. that's all\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
\u201c@Variety So HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys is a transphobe too, got it! Claiming rhetorical neutrality is siding with the oppressor, and he put his money where his mouth is already by paying TERF J.K. Rowling to adapt her "Harry Potter" series for TV. He chose money over human rights.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1681326509
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rowling released the following statement:
"Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series."
While Bloys refused to discuss the way Rowling's views might affect attracting talent for the new series, he did note they had some writers in mind.
"We have been trying to be very close to the vest. But we haven't gone out to agencies yet."
"We have our own internal process where we've been thinking about people, but we have not wanted to go out into the world saying, 'Who do you have?"
"But now that the news is out, we will start."