As we inch closer towards the premiere of HBO's TV adaptation of Harry Potter, several big names are being announced as the stars who will take on the roles of characters many of us have grown up with.
Earlier today (14 April), it was officially announced that Janet McTeer, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse would be taking on the roles of Professor McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, Professor Quirrell and Argus Filch, respectively.
The news also saw confirmations of John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, two major characters previously played by Michael Gambon (who took over from Richard Harris) and Alan Rickman.
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While we wait for confirmation of which actors will be taking on the roles of the golden trio, let's take a look back at the three unknown faces who found fame playing Harry, Ron and Hermione.
And more recently, how the group's relationship with author J.K. Rowling has soured over the years, due to their opposing views on the rights of trans people.
Once a beloved children's author, Rowling has become a polarising figure over the past couple of years, with her controversial opinions leading the 59-year-old to be accused of transphobia.
What has J.K. Rowling said about Emma Watson in recent years?
Following Rowling's controversial rant about trans women back in 2020, which saw her react to the gender neutral term of 'people who menstruate' on social media by writing: "'People who menstruate.' I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"
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She has since doubled down on her beliefs several times over the years, prompting Watson and several other Harry Potter stars to share their views on trans rights.
Following co-star Daniel Radcliffe's decision to speak out about the topic, Watson tweeted in 2020: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.
"I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you, and love you for who you are."
Watson would seemingly touch on the subject once again during a speech at the 2022 BAFTA awards, where she told the audience that she was 'for all the witches' while on stage (via The Independent).
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Rowling has never directly named Watson, or her co-stars Grint and Radcliffe, she stated that should the actors feel the need to apologise to her, it wouldn't be a welcome one.
"Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology… safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them," one person tweeted to her in response to her opinions on The Cass Report last year, to which Rowling replied: "Not safe, I’m afraid.
"Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces."
But seeing as neither Grint, Radcliffe or Watson have expressed a public desire to issue said apology, we doubt they're losing any sleep over Rowling and her opinions of them.
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected].
Topics: Emma Watson, JK Rowling, Harry Potter, TV and Film
Brenna Cooper