Harry Potter actor defends HBO remake after JK Rowling trans comments spark boycott fears: ‘Story has its own life’
Harry Potter fans shouldn’t let their personal opinions on author JK Rowling stop them from enjoying the upcoming TV remake from HBO, according to one of the original film’s stars.
Author Rowling, 59, has found herself at the centre of global debate surrounding trans and gender ideology in recent years, becoming a vocal supporter of biological women’s rights.
Rowling has and will continue to play a major part in the decision-making process behind the HBO remake despite calls from the cancel culture mob for her to exit the project.
This time around, HBO will retell the story of the world’s most famous wizard throughout eight hour-long episodes, each exploring different chapters of Rowling’s first book, The Philosopher’s Stone.
Casting remains a mystery for now, although the likes of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, and Paapa Essiedu are just three big names who’ve been heavily linked for roles as Albus Dumbledore, Professor Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape, respectively.
At the time of writing, none of the stars who appeared in Warner Bros’ batch of movies have been confirmed to reprise their role – but there’s one man who’s told GB News he’d certainly be open to the opportunity.
“I certainly have,” Pius Thicknesse star Guy Henry told GB News when asked if he’d seen the updates about the HBO series. “I’m waiting for the call…”
Henry made his debut in the wizarding world of Harry Potter in the Deathly Hallows, meaning he may be waiting some time for HBO to catch up with the seventh book in Rowling’s series if bosses decide to ask him to reprise the role.
But the 64-year-old is open to other possibilities: “I was wondering if I would reprise that (part), or whether there might be something else I could do with the aid of acting and a different goatee beard – I could be anything!
“Well, probably not one of the tinier people, because as I said, I’m very tall, but, yeah, I’d love to be a part of it, it’d be great.
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“But I’m actually wondering if being in the original film series precludes me from from being in this version, because maybe they want to find their own people. But I have said to the secret agent, ‘Can I be in that one or not?'”
Clearly undeterred by the noise surrounding the film thanks to Rowling’s involvement, GB News asked Henry whether he believes audiences should separate their personal opinions of an artist from their art.
“Yes, there has been argy-bargy, hasn’t there?” he mused. “We’re in a swinging pendulum age where many, many things are improving, I think.
“(But) I’m not sure that, as it were, debate is being improved by people having to be so circumspect.”
On Rowling specifically, Henry said: “I certainly think that the stories that she writes are wonderful and should have their own life and their own beauty and credibility.
“I certainly think it should forge ahead and be separate from anything she or anyone else might say.”
It’s not just Rowling’s ties to the series that have resulted in uproar among the stories’ fandom before a single spell has been cast in the HBO retelling.
Lithgow’s reported casting sparked fury from some that an American actor would be given such a high-profile role in the quintessentially British franchise.
Meanwhile, rumours Severus Snape is set to be played by actor Essiedu after originally being played by Alan Rickman has also led to debate about the HBO show’s casting direction.
Cries of “wokeism” have plagued the series since the casting rumours came to light, while Rowling’s involvement has sparked boycott calls due to her supposedly “transphobic” views.
Despite this rock-and-a-hard-place cultural space the HBO adaptation appears to be occupying, the opportunity to star in such a renowned franchise clearly isn’t deterring big names.
And while Henry may still be awaiting the call to give Pius Thicknesse another lease of life on-screen, he will soon be back in cinemas in an all-new role.
Henry stars alongside the likes of Johnny Vegas, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Jane Horrocks, and many other big names in the time-travelling comedy flick, Time Travel is Dangerous.
The uniquely zany comedy follows a pair of vintage shop owners who stumble upon a time machine that they use to bring back relics from yesteryear to the modern-day – with hilarious consequences, of course.
Set for release on March 28, Henry said of the film during his chat with GB News: “I was just practicing what I was going to say to you about it… and wacky was one of the words, wild is another. Another was warm.
“It’s very charming. I must say when we were filming it, I wasn’t entirely conversant with the intricacies of the plot, but it’s a great film, it’s terrific.”
WATCH HERE: Guy Henry delivers his verdict on returning to the Harry Potter world in HBO’s series
It wasn’t just the storyline that endeared itself to Henry, as he was full of high praise for his castmates.
“Well, you may think, as I would, that Johnny Vegas and I are somewhat different people,” Henry dryly remarked. “I didn’t know him before the film.
“I do know Stephen Fry a little bit; he directed a lovely film I was in years ago about 2003 called Bright Young Things so I know Stephen well, he’s a gent of the highest order.
“And so I said, ‘What’s Johnny Vegas like? I’m going to be working with him’. And he said, ‘Oh, to use a horrible word, genuine. He’s a lovely, lovely man’. And it turned out to be the case.
“We seem completely different (but) we got on famously. So he was great fun, yeah, and they all were. It was an absolute joy to make, which doesn’t always translate to happiness on-screen, but I think it does in this film.”
Time Travel is Dangerous will be released in cinemas across the UK from March 28.