These were interconnected sections, so it was not an open world. And in my opinion nobody can touch that.When Electronic Arts owned the rights to develop Harry Potter video games, several installments focused on exploring Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as other settings from the films. If you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life - then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. “I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you. “To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you,” he said. More than 20 years after “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” hit theaters, Rowling’s anti-trans rhetoric has continued to fuel discourse about separating art from the artist - a concept Radcliffe touched on while declaring his loyalty to the trans community last year: Rowling’s anti-trans tweets and follow-up essay. and Scholastic are among the latest to respond to J.K. The stars of FX’s “Pose,” Universal Parks, Warner Bros. Though Rowling occupies little screen time over the course of the special, “Jo” does come up in conversations about her creative input on the movies and the cultural impact of the “Harry Potter” books.įor example: “Sorcerer’s Stone” and “Chamber of Secrets” director Chris Columbus talks about meeting with Rowling to share his “vision” for the flagship film Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) recalls Rowling personally reassuring her of her character’s importance and Radcliffe reveals that only the late Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) could persuade Rowling to divulge plot details from the later novels before they were published.Įntertainment & Arts ‘Pose’ stars join growing backlash over J.K. “I have found it an extraordinary world to be involved with,” she says. Her final appearance comes toward the end of the special, which sees cast and creatives reflecting on the lasting legacy of the franchise. Rowling’s Wizarding World are speaking out against the “Harry Potter” author’s anti-trans comments, which she explained in a new essay. Rowling defends her anti-trans comments as Eddie Redmayne condemns them Rowling is also name-checked throughout by “Harry Potter” filmmakers and cast members, several of whom have spoken out against Rowling’s transphobic remarks in the past.īooks J.K. The special’s executive producer, Casey Patterson, was not available for comment. HBO did not respond to requests for clarification as to whether Rowling declined the interview or filmed a new interview that producers then decided to leave out of the special. The archival clips of Rowling are fleeting, accounting for less than 30 seconds of the nearly two-hour-long show.Īn HBO spokesperson told The Times that Rowling was invited to do a new interview but that producers felt the previously captured footage was adequate. Rowling, who has come under fire in recent years for repeatedly expressing anti-transgender views.ĭespite her absence from HBO’s marketing campaign, however, Rowling does appear in the special, which samples footage from a 2019 interview with her. In the weeks leading up to the highly anticipated program, streaming New Year’s Day on HBO Max, not a single teaser, trailer or poster has featured “Harry Potter” author J.K. When HBO announced its upcoming reunion special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” the star-studded lineup did not include You-Know-Who.