Actor Nicholas Hoult has faced backlash from some fans after it was announced that he would join the cast of HBO’s Harry Potter television series.
Hoult is set to play Harry Potter’s eccentric teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart, who appears in the second novel and was first played by veteran British actor Kenneth Branagh.
His participation in the show was met with dismay by some fans, due to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s views on gender.
Rowling has stated she believes biological sex is real and immutable and has been critical of self-declared gender identity, calling it “quasi-religious” and “anti-science”.
The author has denied being transphobic and previously said she respects “every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them”.
Rowling has also used her own money to fund legal cases seeking to prohibit transgender people’s access to single sex spaces.
Supporters view these efforts as necessary to protect the rights of biological women, while those opposing them see them as part of a wider anti-trans movement.
Rowling serves as an executive producer on HBO’s show, which is thought to be one of the most expensively produced television series of all time.
Nicholas Hoult is the latest actor to face criticism for joining a Rowling project, but who else is set to star in HBO’s new show, and what have they said about the accompanying political debate?
Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor in the recent Superman film. Credit: AP
Nicholas Hoult – Gilderoy Lockhart
Hoult first appeared on screen in 1996 as a child, and would go on to star in the film About a Boy, the TV show Skins, and more recently Superman, The Menu, and X-Men.
The actor has previously revealed in interviews that he had unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy when the films were first made.
Reacting on X, some users expressed dismay at him joining the show, sharing sentiments such as: “This is disappointing to see. It’s a shame to see him working on something that will benefit anti-LGBT+ groups.”
A fan account for the star, @houltdaily, added: “Pausing any posts on this account for the time being. Nicholas Hoult, do better; so many of your fans are hurt.”
Hoult has yet to address the issue publicly. ITV News has reached out to his representatives for comment.
Bel Powley recently starred in the film Savage House, and TV show Masters of the Air. Credit: AP
Bel Powley – Petunia Dursley
Powley rose to fame playing the lead character in the 2015 film Diary of a Teenage Girl, and has since appeared in multiple films and TV shows.
Speaking to the Telegraph earlier this week, she distanced herself from Rowling’s views, saying: “I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”
She continued: “But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”
John Lithgow recently won a Tony for best actor in a play after playing Roald Dahl in, Giant. Credit: AP
John Lithgow – Albus Dumbledore
Veteran Hollywood actor John Lithgow has recently appeared as Winston Churchill in Netflix’s The Crown, starred in the TV show Dexter, and also voiced Lord Farquaad in the animated film Shrek.
After accepting the role, Lithgow said: “It was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid, but I’m very excited.”
Speaking at a film festival in Rotterdam, Lithgow said he found it “ironic and somewhat inexplicable” that Rowling expressed the views she did, saying he had “read about them”.
“She’s not really involved in this production at all,” he said.
“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.”
When Lithgow’s role was announced, he claimed a friend with a transgender child sent him a link calling on him to walk away from the production.
“It was a hard decision,” Lithgow said. “It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.
“It upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to me having anything to do with this,” he added.
British actor Nick Frost is set to play Hogwarts’ caretaker Hagrid in the upcoming HBO show. Credit: AP
Nick Frost – Hagrid
British actor Nick Frost is widely known for his roles in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End.
Speaking to the Observer, Frost revealed he had had to turn off comments on his social media posts announcing his casting as a result of the backlash.
Asked if he feared the debate overshadowing the series, Frost said, “I don’t know,” adding: “But maybe it shouldn’t blow over? We shouldn’t just hope it will go away, because it makes it easier. Maybe we should educate ourselves.
“She’s allowed her opinion, and I’m allowed mine; they just don’t align in any way, shape or form.”
Katherine Parkinson rose to fame starring as Jen in Graham Linehan’s The IT Crowd. Credit: PA
Katherine Parkinson – Molly Weasley
Katherine Parkinson rose to fame playing Jen in Graham Lineham’s The IT Crowd, but has also starred in Sherlock and more recently, Disney’s Rivals.
Asked by Radio Times how she felt about J.K. Rowling’s views as she joined the show, Parkinson refused to directly comment, saying: “I don’t want to add to that debate at all. I’m just delighted to be joining the magical world of Harry Potter.”
A photo released by HBO, showing Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in the new TV show. Credit: PA / HBO Max
Paapa Essiedu – Severus Snape
British actor Paapa Essiedu began his career on stage, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2012. He went on to star on screen, appearing in numerous TV shows including Black Mirror, I May Destroy You, and Gangs of London.
His casting as Hogwarts’ potions professor Severus Snape, previously played by Alan Rickman in the original films, saw some criticise the decision on account of his race.
Essiedu revealed in an interview with the Times that he had received death threats in response to the announcement, but admitted the abuse fuelled him.
“I think of how I felt as a kid. I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of.”
In the wake of 2025’s Supreme Court ruling on gender and single sex spaces, Essiedu signed an open letter supporting trans rights in the UK.
At the time, there was speculation he risked his role in the show by doing so, to which Rowling responded by writing on social media: “I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
Addressing the letter, Essiedu said: “My points of view are mine and will continue to be so.
“I signed that letter because I believe that artists in the trans community have a right to be treated with dignity and should be able to work without being intimidated. I have been really supported by the production team, and I’d sign that letter again today.”
Keira Knightley and Michelle Gomez both voiced roles in the Harry Potter audiobooks. Credit: AP / PA
Actors appearing in the upcoming TV show aren’t the only ones facing backlash for involvement in a Harry Potter project.
The recent release of a voice-acted audiobook series of all the Potter novels saw a slew of famous actors issue statements on their casting.
Keira Knightley, who was cast as Dolores Umbridge, told interviewers she was “not aware” of the controversy before joining the audiobooks, adding: “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.”
Scottish actress Michelle Gomez, who was cast as Professor McGonagall and is known for a series of roles including Missy in Doctor Who, issued a statement directly to her LGBTQ+ fans.
She wrote: “To my LGBTQ+ fans, and especially the trans community: I want to speak directly to the concerns that have been raised about my involvement in this project.
“I hear you, and I understand why this is painful for many. I want to be clear that I stand with trans people, and I support trans rights – fully and without hesitation.
“When I accepted this role, I did so as someone who has always loved the stories and what they meant to so many – especially those who found comfort and identity in that world.
“I now understand more clearly how deeply complicated and hurtful this association can feel, and I take that seriously. Being an ally means listening even when it’s uncomfortable and taking accountability where it’s needed. I’m committed to doing both.”
Actors James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, and Kit Harington also voiced roles in the audiobooks but did not issue public statements on Rowling’s or their own views.
Left to right: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Warson, Rupert Grint, and Tom Felton who played Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco respectively. Credit: PA
Rowling has previously addressed her relationship with former Harry Potter stars who have distanced themselves from her views on gender.
Daniel Radcliffe, who originally played the titular role and has himself ruled out ever returning to the franchise, described his public rift with Rowling as “really sad”.
In a public statement: “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people.”
Hermione Granger actor Emma Watson, and Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint have also made public statements to the same effect.
Responding on social media in 2025, J.K. Rowling said: “I’m not owed eternal agreement from any actor who once played a character I created. The idea is as ludicrous as me checking with the boss I had when I was twenty-one for what opinions I should hold these days.
“Emma Watson and her co-stars have every right to embrace gender identity ideology. Such beliefs are legally protected, and I wouldn’t want to see any of them threatened with loss of work, or violence, or death, because of them.”
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Not all of the original cast have sought to distance themselves, however.
Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton, who returned to the same role in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York in 2025, said when asked: “I can’t say it [impacts me], I’m not really that attuned to it.”
He added: “I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.”
The first season of the Harry Potter Series is set to air on Christmas Day on HBO. It will adapt the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
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