While many of her peers boycott the Harry Potter universe, Keira Knightley appears to have avoided the fiery discourse around the franchise.
After Deadline reported last month that Knightley will voice Professor Umbridge in Pottermore Publishing and Audible‘s Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, the 2x Oscar nominee pleaded ignorance around the backlash sparked by author J.K. Rowling‘s anti-trans views.
“I was not aware of that, no. I’m very sorry,” Knightley told Decider of the boycott. “You know, I think we’re all living in a period of time right now where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we? And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect.”
After Rowling previously celebrated UK’s Supreme Court ruling that prohibits 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 on trans rights. One such signatory was Paapa Essiedu, who has been cast in HBO Max’s Harry Potter series as Professor Snape.
Rowling has said she “worked closely” with the show’s writers’ room, and Deadline previously reported she was part of the pitch process for the Warner Bros. Television series, which she will produce through her Brontë Film and TV banner.
HBO Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys confirmed at the time that Rowling “will be involved. She’s an executive producer on the show. Her insights are going to be helpful on that.”
Explaining that the controversy around Rowling’s anti-trans statements is “very nuanced and complicated,” Bloys added: “Our priority is what’s on the screen. Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That’s our priority — what’s on screen.”
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