Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Directors decline Harry Potter series over Rowling's anti-trans views
Some directors who make TV shows were asked to help direct a new Harry Potter show.
The show is based on books written by J.K. Rowling.
Rowling has said things about transgender people that many people disagree with.
Two directors, Ally Pankiw and Kate Herron, decided they did not want to work on the show.
Pankiw's agent asked her if she wanted to direct an episode, and she said no.
She posted on Instagram that it is easy to say no to something she does not support.
Herron said the show asked her twice and she said no both times.
Another person in the show, Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley, also said she disagrees with Rowling's views.
Many other actors are still part of the show, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Nicholas Hoult in Season 2.
The first season will come out around Christmas.
Directors Ally Pankiw and Kate Herron turned down offers to direct episodes of HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series over J.K. Rowling's anti-trans views.
Pankiw shared an apparent text exchange with her agent on Instagram, saying it is 'easy to say no to funding transphobia.'
Herron said she had been approached twice and gave the same refusal both times.
Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley, said she disagrees with Rowling's gender-identity stand.
Season 1 premieres this Christmas on HBO and HBO Max, while the Season 2 filming begins this fall after a May greenlight.
- Who
- Directors Ally Pankiw and Kate Herron, who were approached to direct episodes of HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series.
- What
- Both directors declined to direct episodes because of author J.K. Rowling's views on transgender issues.
- When
- Recently, ahead of the first season's Christmas premiere and the second season's fall filming.
- Where
- In Instagram posts by Pankiw and comments by Herron; the series airs on HBO and streams on HBO Max.
- Why
- The directors oppose what they describe as funding transphobia connected to Rowling's anti-trans stand.
Against Rowling's views
Continuing the franchise
Directing the Harry Potter series
Against Rowling's views
Directors Ally Pankiw and Kate Herron turned down offers, with Pankiw saying it is 'easy to say no to funding transphobia.'
Continuing the franchise
Production has continued with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes and Nicholas Hoult joining Season 2 as Gilderoy Lockhart.
Rowling's transgender views
Against Rowling's views
Pankiw, Herron and cast member Bel Powley disagree with Rowling's stance on transgender issues, describing it as transphobic.
Continuing the franchise
Rowling remains an executive producer of the series, which is described as a faithful adaptation of her seven-part book series.
- Network
- HBO, streaming on HBO Max
- Original author
- J.K. Rowling
- Directors who declined
- Ally Pankiw, Kate Herron
- Reason for decline
- Rowling's anti-trans views
- Season 1 premiere
- Christmas (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
- Season 2
- Greenlit in May; filming this fall
- Season 1 showrunner
- Francesca Gardiner
- Season 2 co-showrunners
- Francesca Gardiner, Jon Brown