Do not expect Daniel Radcliffe to return to the Harry Potter franchise any time soon. Recently, Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter movies, said that he wants to direct a “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” film adaptation, Radcliffe returning to star as Harry Potter. However, Radcliffe told The New York Times that a “Cursed Child” film adaptation is “not something I’m really interested in doing right now.”
In the NYT interview promoting The Lost City, which co-stars beauty queen Sandra Bullock and former model Channing Tatum, Radcliffe said that he had to disappoint fans, but he doesn’t plan on returning to the role anytime soon. He said:
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Remaining fans of the Harry Potter franchise started buzzing about a possible film adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” after Columbus said he’s eager to reunite Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Radcliffe in a film version of the play. Written by Jack Thorne from a story co-created by J.K. Rowling, the play focuses on an adult Harry Potter and his son. “It’s a great play and the kids are actually the right age to play those roles,” Columbus told Variety. “It’s a small fantasy of mine.”
This isn’t the answer that anybody’s going to want, but I think I was so able to go back and enjoy it because it’s not a part of my day-to-day life anymore. I’m getting to a point where I feel like I made it out of “Potter” OK and I’m really happy with where I am now, and to go back would be such a massive change to my life. I’m never going to say never, but the “Star Wars” guys had like 30, 40 years before they went back. For me, it’s only been 10. It’s not something I’m really interested in doing right now.
Harry Potter Cast Talks About J.K. Rowling
Image via BBC
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter novels, continually attacks the transgender community on social media. Making her transphobic opinions first known on June 6, 2020, when she re-tweeted an opinion piece discussing “people who menstruate.” The author’s tweet took issue with the fact that the article’s title did not use the word women. Despite the backlash to Rowling’s initial tweet, the author double-downed on her views, posting a lengthy response on Twitter that confirmed her transphobic stance and then posting another transphobic open letter on her website (read a full breakdown here).
Much of the Harry Potter cast spoke out against Rowling’s transphobic comments, including Radcliffe himself, who made a statement via the LGBTQ+ organization The Trevor Project.
Radcliffe isn’t the only Harry Potter alum to speak out against Rowling’s beliefs. Ron Weasley actor Grint has also said, “I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men.”
As someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment. Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I. According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.
Just recently at the 2022 British Academy Film Awards, Emma Watson also threw a little shade at Rowling. After Rebel Wilson introduced Watson by saying, “She calls herself a feminist, but we all know she’s a witch.” Watson, who has publicly denounced the author’s views on trans women before, walked on stage and quipped back, “I’m here for all of the witches.”
