The Harry Potter reboot series hasn’t even begun filming, but the political and cultural crossfire surrounding its cast and creator is already intensifying. At the center of this new chapter is Paapa Essiedu, the British actor cast as Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming series. He now finds himself both lauded and lambasted—not for his acting or his role, but for his position in the ongoing cultural war over gender ideology and J.K. Rowling’s public stance on women’s rights.
Essiedu, best known for his work in I May Destroy You, has signed onto a role that promises him fame and financial reward. Yet almost immediately after news of his casting broke, he found himself under fire from trans activists who accused him of hypocrisy for staying involved in a Rowling-backed project while signing an open letter opposing the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of “woman” as biological.
The ruling, which Rowling vocally supported, clarified that legal protections based on sex in the Equality Act apply to biological sex—not gender identity. Activists decried the decision as a blow to trans rights. In response, over 400 UK film and TV industry professionals, including Essiedu, Eddie Redmayne, and Emma Watson, signed a letter criticizing the ruling and calling for greater protections for trans, non-binary, and intersex people.
Activists, however, were quick to turn on Essiedu for not going further—demanding he quit the project to show “solidarity” with the trans community. His decision to remain in the series was branded “hollow,” with critics accusing him of virtue-signaling while profiting from Rowling’s intellectual property.
According to sources close to the production, J.K. Rowling isn’t phased in the slightest. The MailOnline quotes an insider saying, “Jo won’t care at all.” Despite being a hands-on executive producer, Rowling reportedly sees Harry Potter as bigger than any one actor and believes the power of the franchise speaks for itself.
This response fits a pattern. Rowling has shown zero inclination to bend to celebrity backlash, even taking thinly veiled swipes at Harry Potter alumni like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint for their support of gender ideology. She’s been especially vocal in calling out celebrities who, in her view, “cheered on the transitioning of minors” without acknowledging the detransitioning movement or the Cass Report, which raised significant concerns about medical pathways for gender-questioning youth.
The growing tension isn’t just between Rowling and activists—it’s within the industry itself. While some, like Essiedu, attempt to walk the line—opposing policies they find harmful while still participating in Rowling-led projects—others are demanding total disassociation from Rowling and her work.
At the same time, fans are split. Some are excited by the Harry Potter reboot’s casting announcements, including Essiedu and John Lithgow (as Dumbledore), but others question whether the narrative dynamics—particularly Snape’s bullying and outsider status—will be reframed by race or gender politics.
Critics on the other side argue that Rowling’s detractors are applying ideological litmus tests to art, punishing actors who don’t conform 100% to a progressive orthodoxy—even when they sign solidarity letters. And while HBO has stood firmly by Rowling, defending her freedom to express personal views, that hasn’t slowed the pressure campaign.
