Once again, actors’ responses to the ever-expanding world of new(ish) Harry Potter properties are a sign of the times.
Unless you’ve been in a coma, you’re likely aware that J.K. Rowling has faced immense backlash for her anti-trans rhetoric. Which isn’t to say that her beliefs are merely theoretical; she’s provided funding for a group that successfully got the UK Supreme Court to essentially no longer view trans women as women and has created a private “legal fighting fund for women protecting their sex-based rights.” Currently, she’s calling for a boycott of a chain of stores because a woman claimed that a trans employee* “politely” asked her teenage daughter if they needed help.
Given that the writer continues to use her economic and cultural power to fight against trans people, many have called for a boycott of any new and official Harry Potter IP that will benefit Rowling. That hasn’t stopped many actors from cashing in themselves, such as the cast of the upcoming HBO series, which features Nick Frost, John Lithgow, and Paapa Essiedu.
Given that the bar is in hell, someone with a passable take on the whole thing is Ben Barnes. You might recognize the actor and singer from The Chronicles of Narnia and The Punisher, but he’s also been fancast as Sirius Black for many years now. As per Collider, Ben was recently asked about fan hype at a convention in Florida.
“I found it very weird for a lot of years, because I didn’t really understand what was happening,” he replied. “Then I went through a phase of being like, ‘Wait, people have imagined me in this sort of old universe thing for like, 15 plus, 20 years now.’ And it’s that kind of, like, it’s the commitment to it, which I really kind of value. And I think is really, really lovely.”
“Most people in the world found those stories and those movies, when they came out, really joyful,” he continued. “And obviously, in the last few years, I found it much more — a more difficult thing to talk about, because there’s obviously, like, a clash between some of the author’s views on things and the way I see the world.”
“I think that has made it, sadly, sort of tainted, this beautiful mythology of how I saw those stories. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a really — such a cool character, and, you know, to be associated with a character like that from other people who do love it, it’s like — it’s like a really beautiful thing, and it makes me happy,” he added.
Ben’s words came a few days before the cast of the new Audible Harry Potter audiobooks was announced. The cast includes Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumdledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort, Riz Amed as Professor Snape, and Michelle Gomez as Professor McGonagall.
Hugh said of his casting, “I’m honoured to have been trusted with the keys to Albus Dumbledore, and thrilled to be able to take him around the track of this beautiful incarnation by Pottermore and Audible. I’m also deeply conscious of previous drivers Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Jude Law and the iconic narrations by Jim Dale and m’colleague Sir Stephen Fry. Just below the horizon, but headed our way, is the rough beast John Lithgow, his hour come round at last. This is great company, and it’s a privilege to be among their number.”
Resist the siren song, Ben…