Hogwarts Legacy is about to hit consoles this Feb. 10, but while Warner Bros. and developers Avalanche Software might be wishing there was nothing but positive publicity around this flashy new Wizarding World video game, unfortunately, the discourse surrounding it has been dominated by the ramifications of Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling‘s continuing transphobic tirade. Fans have a lot to say on the matter, and so too, it seems, has the cast of the original HP movies.
Many of the leading stars of the films that introduced screen audiences to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first place have already made clear how they feel about Rowling’s attitudes long before Hogwarts Legacy came about. While some have stood their ground in opposition to the billionaire writer’s views, others have been less damning, with certain cast members even coming out in her defense. Here are all the most notable reactions to Rowling’s rhetoric from Harry Potter stars.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint
In the wake of Rowling’s anti-trans views becoming abundantly clear for the first time back in summer 2020, thankfully the so-called Golden Trio quickly spoke out against her opinions and in support of the trans community. While all three have been careful not to disparage the author as a person, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) have made clear — on at least two occasions each at the time of writing — that they have no truck with Rowling’s hurtful comments, much to the relief of their millions of fans.
Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs, and Harry Melling
On the other hand, a trio of their fellow former Harry Potter stars have not come down so hard on J.K. Rowling. While likewise attempting to distance themselves from Rowling’s transphobic rhetoric and making clear that they don’t share her views, these three actors have nonetheless attempted to remain impartial in the matter and have refrained from speaking ill of the creator.
First, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) has stressed that he doesn’t “tend to pick sides,” describing himself as “pro-love,” but he did offer his glowing opinion of Rowling that “no one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations and walks of life.”
Felton’s on-screen father Jason Isaacs ironically said much the same to The Telegraph in Jan. 2022. Although admitting that he didn’t want to “get drawn into the trans issues,” which he feels is an “extraordinary minefield,” Isaacs stated: “She has her opinions, I have mine. They differ in many different areas.” He did, however, praise Rowling’s extensive charity work, which he called “unequivocally good.”
Lastly, Harry Melling (Dudley Dursley) offered something of a synthesis of the Golden Trio’s responses with the neutrality of the on-screen Malfoys. He informed The Independent in Jan. 2023: “I can only speak for myself, and what I feel, to me, is very simple, which is that transgender women are women and transgender men are men.” That said, he added, “I don’t want to join the debate of pointing fingers and saying, ‘That’s right, that’s wrong,’ because I don’t think I’m the correct spokesperson for that.”
Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Robbie Coltrane
At the other end of the scale, three additional Harry Potter stars have strongly spoken out in Rowling’s defense. The Dark Lord himself Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort) has decried the “verbal abuse” directed at the writer as “disgusting” and “appalling,” as well as maintaining that Rowling’s views do not make her an “uber Right-wing fascist.” Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) appears to sympathize with Rowling herself, bemoaning the “witch hunt” around her and stressed that she thinks “she’s allowed her opinion.” Last but not least, Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) waded into the debate prior to his death, commenting: “‘I don’t think what she said was offensive, really. ”
