Rebooting a beloved film is usually enough to send fans of the original into hysteria, but the looming TV adaptation of Harry Potter is proving a hard sell even for some Potterheads!
The new series, set to premiere on Christmas Day, will bring the story of the young wizard’s journey to Hogwarts school to a new generation. Yet ever since the project was announced, there’s been widespread debate over whether a remake is needed or if it’s too soon to recreate the iconic franchise.
Throw in a sprinkling of controversy around the casting and crew, and this show definitely has people talking…
Racism & death threats
The late Alan Rickman put his unique stamp on the complex character of Professor Severus Snape, but critics have barely given his successor Paapa Essiedu the chance to prove his acting chops. His casting immediately sparked a wave of racism and even death threats from those opposed to a black man playing the role of Severus.
London-born Paapa, 35, reveals, “I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you.’ I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”
Jason Isaacs, aka Lucius Malfoy in the films, has defended Paapa, saying, “He’s one of the best actors I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen some people online who are being rude about him. What they’re being is racist.”
Lazy ‘rehash’ of the films?
There’s a fresh cast, but one glimpse at the promotional trailer for the Harry Potter TV series and critics are already suspicious they’ve seen it all before – 25 years ago in the Philosopher’s Stone film.
The early look shows the new Harry, Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin, receiving his letter of acceptance to Hogwarts on his 11th birthday, with Alastair Stout joining him there as friend Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton on board as Hermione Granger.
Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter movies, is one critic who has questioned the need for a TV adaptation that’s seemingly so similar to the movies.
“There are photographs of Nick Frost as Hagrid with the new Harry Potter,” Chris says.
“He’s wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid. Part of me was like, ‘What’s the point?’ I thought everything was going to be different. It’s more of the same.”
However, showrunners insist that while the series is faithful to the original books, as were the films, this version allows the chance to go deeper into the narrative.
The JK Rowling backlash
In more recent years, the controversy around author JK Rowling’s transphobic social media commentary has left fans of her books divided. Among her critics are OG Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. The trio has all distanced themselves from JK and publicly support transgender rights, leading to a rift that has only widened with time.
With JK sitting in the executive producer’s chair and being “very, very involved” with the impending series, that backlash has filtered down to actors such as John Lithgow, who has felt the wrath of her detractors.
The 80-year-old actor has spoken about the “upsetting” reaction to him joining the project as Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore, calling JK’s views on transgender rights “ironic” and “inexplicable”.
John, who hasn’t met JK, says, “It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.”
Already renewed for season 2!
Although the first season won’t premiere until December, producers have already renewed it for a second season. Chamber Of Secrets will begin filming later this year, in line with the plan to bring all seven of the books to the small screen over a decade.
Despite the controversy, Daniel, 36, has happily passed the baton on to Dominic.
“I don’t want to be a spectre in the life of these children,” he says.
“I just wanted to write to him to say, ‘I hope you have the best time and an even better time than I did.’”
