While many of his peers are boycotting the Harry Potter universe, Keira Knightley seems to have avoided the heated discussions around the franchise.
After Deadline announced last month that Knightley would voice Professor Umbridge through Pottermore Publishing and Audible. Harry Potter: the complete audio editionsthe two-time Oscar nominee pleaded ignorance to backlash over author JK Rowling’s anti-trans views.
“I wasn’t aware of that, no. I’m really sorry,” Knightley told Decider of the boycott. “You know, I think we’re all living in a time where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, right? And we all have very different opinions. I hope we can all find respect.”
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After Rowling celebrated the UK Supreme Court’s ruling banning trans women from being legally recognized as women, more than 400 people signed a letter urging the country’s film and television industry to take action against her over trans rights. One of those signatories was Paapa Essiedu, who was cast for HBO Max. Harry Potter series as Professor Snape.
Rowling said she had “worked closely” with the show’s writers’ room, and Deadline previously reported that she was part of the pitch process for the Warner Bros. TV series, which she will produce through her Brontë Film and TV banner.
Casey Bloys, HBO’s chairman and CEO, confirmed at the time that Rowling “will be involved. She’s an executive producer on the show. Her ideas are going to be helpful on this.”
Explaining that the controversy around Rowling’s anti-trans statements is “very nuanced and complicated”, Bloys added: “Our priority is what’s on screen. Harry Potter The story is incredibly affirming and positive and is about love and self-acceptance. That’s our priority: what’s on the screen.
