Director Ally Pankiw declines HBO Harry Potter series over Rowling views

Director Ally Pankiw has publicly declined an opportunity to work on HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television series, citing the involvement of author J.K. Rowling and her views on transgender issues. The decision, shared via an Instagram post on August 13, 2026, has added to the ongoing controversy surrounding the high-profile adaptation.

Pankiw, known for directing the Black Mirror episode "Joan Is Awful" and episodes of series like The Great and Feel Good, posted a screenshot of a text exchange with a representative. In the message, her agent asked, "I have an instinct on the answer, but I feel compelled to ask. Harry Potter? Hard no?" Pankiw replied, "Absolutely fing not! lol. But thank you for asking." She captioned the post, "It simply is this easy to say no to funding transphobia!" and clarified the approach was for a directing role, not acting.

The post quickly drew support from other industry figures. Kate Herron, director of Marvel's Loki and episodes of Doctor Who, commented that she had also been approached. "They've asked me twice and I've had to explain my answer is never gonna change from a no," Herron wrote. Pankiw highlighted Herron's response in a subsequent...