Harry Potter: Stop Doing Business with J.K. Rowling

A rumored live-action Harry Potter TV series shows that Warner Bros. and HBO Max would rather keep supporting transphobic J.K. Rowling.

It’s time for the Harry Potter franchise to end.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is in early development for a live-action series.  Stop right there.  Do not go any further.  Just don’t do this.  It is completely irresponsible to keep putting money in J.K. Rowling’s hands.

I said it when Warner Bros. released their statement in June and I’ll say it again right now.  Their statement was bullshit.  Every time you watch these films on TV or streaming, J.K. Rowling makes money.  Every time you buy the books (new), Rowling also makes money.  The fact of the matter is J.K. Rowling will continue to make money on this franchise no matter what the medium is.

To consumers claiming to be a transgender ally, why are you still holding onto the books and films?  Personally, I’m not a Harry Potter fan and this goes back to working at a movie theater in 2001.  You don’t know the embarrassment and humiliation I felt when I was forced against my will to dress up as Harry Potter during opening weekend.  Mind you, I already was dealing with gender issues at the time but didn’t know why and couldn’t tell anyone.  But this is another story for another day!  Maybe I’m lucky that I’m not a fan but this will not stop me from speaking out.  If I were a fan, I would have taken the books and films to Half Price Books or the library.  But I’m not a fan so this isn’t something I need to have weighing down on my conscience.

I’m happy that Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne have spoken out but this isn’t enough.  How do you think I feel when I see those books on anybody’s bookshelves after the pandemic ends.  It says to me that they value these books more than our friendship.  You cannot begin to call yourself an ally to the transgender community while still valuing the books and films.  I’m sorry but it simply doesn’t work that way.  As long as studios keep doing business with J.K. Rowling, they can never call themselves an ally to the transgender community.  Not now, not ever.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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