Movies

JK Rowling’s Revenge: How She’s Erasing Harry Potter Stars with New HBO Adaptation!

BBG News

In 2014, I had the pleasure of encountering Rupert Grint, best known for playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, at an awards event. Although he’s a well-known figure, Grint is also infamous for his shyness and reluctance towards celebrity life. On this occasion, he was hiding in a corner with his father at a Hollywood gathering. I seized the moment to discuss my favorite childhood movies with him, who at that time was 36 years old and had starred in those very films.

It was evident that he held a deep love for the seven-story business, and he shared with me the story of how he’d used his earnings from Harry Potter to buy an ice cream truck.

In the heart of a devoted fan, I couldn’t hide my immense joy at being part of the team, working alongside the legendary Dame Maggie Smith, who breathed life into Professor McGonagall. On what turned out to be our final day on set, there was a Mr Whippy van serving 99s – it felt like an apt farewell treat. As I drove home, teary-eyed, Dumbledore’s Deluminator, a magical torch-like device, glowed gently on my dashboard, symbolizing the magic and memories left behind.

In around 2022, having become a father to a little girl named Wednesday, Grint expressed to me his eagerness to watch the movies again with his toddler.

He shared some video snippets with me, explaining that he wanted to see if she could identify him among them. To his surprise, she immediately recognized him and bore a striking resemblance to how he looked in the initial movie – particularly her smile and rounded head were remarkably similar to his from back then.

She possesses a wand and gown, along with a Pez dispenser shaped like me for her head. As such, I’m gradually introducing her to that realm through these items.

However, when I broached the idea of re-making the movies given the gossip circulating, he openly expressed his reservations by stating: ‘I believe, throughout the years, Ron and I merged into one entity – this sort of combined personality. Therefore, there’s a lot of me embedded within it.’

‘Frequently, I ponder over the possibility of rebooting these stories completely. Such a thought often leaves me feeling uneasy as I’m not confident I could adapt to such a change gracefully.’

Given that American TV titan HBO has announced the initial well-known actors for the upcoming TV series adaptation of the novels, due for release next year, how might Grint be feeling at this moment in time?

Besides Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who are closely associated with the Harry Potter movie series, haven’t said much in response to the latest news.

Although they’ve had a long association with the cherished tale since their youthful days, when Daniel Radcliffe, now 35, was selected as Harry Potter at eleven years old, I can disclose that all three of them have been unaware of the latest venture.

I’m told the trio weren’t even informed that a remake was in the works.

Moreover, to make things even more frustrating, it won’t be until HBO makes their official announcement in the next few months that we find out which of the thousands of aspiring actors will portray Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley – roles they once held themselves, after reviewing over 32,000 audition tapes.

According to an inside source, it’s deeply sad for the trio as they had poured their childhood into crafting Harry Potter, and it held a very dear spot in each of their hearts.

Initially, these stories were expected to return on the screen, but now they hold little significance, having no role in the upcoming series. On the contrary, they may be entirely displaced in the memories of future Harry Potter enthusiasts.

Based on information from another reliable source within the industry, who is involved with the upcoming series prior to its summer filming at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden in Hertfordshire, these concerns appear to be validated.

The author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, who has faced criticism from wealthy adult actors for her opinions on women’s rights and transgender issues, will act as an executive producer for the upcoming series. HBO stated that she has been deeply engaged in the project to make sure it is a true representation of her seven novels.

She held final approval over the writer and showrunner for the new adaptation, a role that encompasses both creative and administrative control. As per my information, Rowling is ‘enjoying the chance’ to give the books a fresh spin, but what seems especially significant is her intention to erase the recollection of the child actors who are said to have criticized her unfairly.

According to the source, ‘Jo is enchanted by the enchanting universe she has crafted and is eagerly looking forward to breathing new life into it using vibrant, upcoming artists.’

This opportunity allows her to step away from the harsh criticisms she’s faced from people she helped rise, and begin anew among fresh acquaintances.

‘In many ways, it is her ultimate revenge for their betrayal.’

Just recently, Rowling seemed to deliver a sharp critique of three actors/actresses whose careers she significantly contributed to, when she responded to a post inquiring: “Who is the performer that immediately spoils a film for you?

Swiftly continuing the conversation, Rowling playfully said: ‘Give it three tries. I couldn’t help myself, it was just too tempting.’ She concluded with a series of laughter emojis.

However, should Radcliffe and Watson feel slighted due to being left in a state of information deprivation, it’s likely that sympathy from the creator of Potter may not be abundant.

J.K. Rowling’s bond with the initial cast members became strained following her publication of a lengthy (nearly 4,000-word) article about the transgender community on her website in 2020. In this piece, she expressed that a woman’s identity is rooted in her biological sex rather than her self-identified gender.

Radcliffe responded by penning his own article declaring ‘transgender women are women’.

In an interview with The Atlantic last May, he rekindled the dispute, stating that simply because J.K. Rowling helped make him famous doesn’t necessarily mean his beliefs about gender ideology should mirror hers.

It was affirmed by Radcliffe that his relationship with Rowling has ended, as she has made it clear that she can’t forgive the younger actors for expressing their opinions contradicting her stance on transgender rights.

Trans individuals are who they identify as, and they should be allowed to live their lives without continual questioning or being told that they aren’t who they identify as.

She followed it up with an image of herself in a T-shirt reading: ‘Trans rights are human rights.’

Ralph Fiennes, known for his role as Voldemort, later voiced his support for Rowling, commenting that the verbal attacks against her are appalling. In a similar vein, Helena Bonham Carter, who portrayed Bellatrix Lestrange, expressed her viewpoint: “People have carried their criticism too far. She has every right to express her opinion, especially considering the abuse she’s endured.

In response to J.K. Rowling, Rupert Grint expressed his viewpoint that trans individuals deserve the right to live with affection and free from prejudice.

On the contrary, he later expressed his deep gratitude towards her, labeling her as exceptionally skilled and referring to her as if she were a beloved aunt.

He added: ‘I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she’s still my auntie.’

What can we anticipate regarding the HBO series scheduled for release in 2026, which marks 25 years since the initial broadcast of Harry Potter featuring Grint, Watson, and Radcliffe at Hogwarts?

Even with J.K. Rowling’s supervision, some casting choices have raised eyebrows among ardent fans, to say the least.

Critics have expressed disapproval over the casting of American actor John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts, and the choice of black actor Paapa Essiedu to play Severus Snape, a character who is described as very pale in the books.

Paul Whitehouse, known for his comedy work, will join the cast as Argus Filch, Nick Frost from Hot Fuzz is set to portray Rubeus Hagrid with a beard, and Janet McTeer (an Oscar nominee) takes on the role of Minerva McGonagall, previously played by the late Dame Maggie.

If, like many of us, you’ve spent your childhood years captivated by the magic of Harry Potter books and movies, it’s understandably thrilling. Yet, it must be bitterly disappointing for Mathew Lewis (Grint) and his fellow former cast members that they might not even receive an invitation to the premiere, given the current circumstances.

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2025-04-17 14:22

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