HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series has stirred quite a bit of debate, and it’s not just about the casting of major characters like Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. The casting of a certain British actor as one of the most lovable characters in the Wizarding World seems to have sparked the most controversy.
Per Variety, HBO has announced John Lithgow (Dexter) as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds) as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu (Gangs of London) as Severus Snape, Luke Thallon (Rupert Goold’s Patriots) as Quirinus Quirrell, Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show) as Argus Filch, and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) as Rubeus Hagrid.
Frost, known for his roles in British comedies like Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007), appeared excited about the opportunity to play Hogwarts’ favorite groundskeeper, sharing a heartfelt tribute to the late Robbie Coltrane on Instagram.
“You’re a wizard, Harry!!!” he wrote, holding up a copy of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, JK Rowling’s debut novel. “Thank you for trusting me with such a loyal, gentle and courageous half-giant like Rubeus Hagrid,” Frost added, honoring Robbie Coltrane’s legacy as the lovable half-giant.
Yet, the casting has drawn criticism from a portion of the Harry Potter fanbase. A key point of contention lies in Frost’s association with JK Rowling, whose comments on gender identity have drawn plenty of backlash over the years, particularly from the LGBTQIA+ community.
While Frost has disabled the comments, many fans have flooded the comments on his unrelated posts, with one user saying, “Working on a JK Rowling project given her routine assaults on the LGBTQIA+ community is appalling.” Others were more pointed in their critique, accusing Frost of aligning with a figure they deemed “hateful.”
On the other hand, Paapa Essiedu, who is set to play Severus Snape, seems to have avoided similar controversy–at least on his Instagram post, where she shared his excitement for the role with an image of his fellow castmates, calling it “an honour and a privilege” to work alongside the other five actors.
Related: As ‘Harry Potter’ Backlash Continues, Warner Bros. Axes Upcoming Project
“We shall eat and we shall leave no crumbs,” he wrote, referencing the importance of the journey ahead. But while his casting has been well-received by many, elsewhere online, some fans have taken issue with the decision to cast him, labeling it as “race-swapping”.
But despite the divide among fans, the series continues to generate significant buzz.
With plans for seven seasons, each based on one of J.K. Rowling’s books, HBO is preparing to revisit the Harry Potter universe in a fresh, serialized format. As production approaches this summer, the show promises to remain a topic of discussion, both for its casting choices and the legacy of the original books and films.
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