Ally Pankiw, a director known for work on Black Mirror and The Great, has publicly declined an offer to direct episodes of the upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot, sharing her emphatic refusal on Instagram.
In a screenshot posted to her Instagram account, Pankiw revealed a text exchange with her representatives in which she was asked about her interest in the series. The message read: 'I have an instinct on the answer, but I feel compelled to ask. Harry Potter? Hard no?'
Pankiw's response was unequivocal: 'Absolutely f—ing not! Lol,' followed by 'Thank you for asking.' Her reps replied, 'Of course :) I assumed as much (And agreed).'
Director's Stance on Transphobia
In the caption accompanying the screenshot, Pankiw wrote: 'It simply is this easy to say no to funding transphobia! (Also this was for directing, not acting… obviously lol).'
The post drew supportive comments, including one from MrTeddyBeargrr who wrote, 'Putting the Ally in ally,' while Taylortega added, 'Yess boom done easy!'
Support from Fellow Directors
Kate Herron, who has directed episodes of Doctor Who and Loki, echoed Pankiw's sentiments in the comments. 'Yeah, thank you exactly! Respect and love to you, Ally,' she wrote. 'They've asked me twice, and I've had to explain my answer is never gonna change from a no.'
The refusals come amid ongoing controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling, who has been accused by critics and LGBTQ+ organisations of being transphobic due to her advocacy for gender-critical views and legal definitions of sex. Rowling denies the accusations, stating she is defending biological sex.
Renewed Debate Over Potter Reboot
Pankiw's exchange follows recent comments from Bel Powley, who is set to play Aunt Petunia in the reboot. Powley told The Telegraph that she 'strongly disagrees with J.K. Rowling's views on gender,' adding that she 'thinks that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.'
However, Powley defended her decision to take the role, saying: 'But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.'
While some appreciated Powley's stance, others accused her of hypocrisy, mocking her justification. Rowling declined to comment when approached by Metro, and Metro has also approached Pankiw for comment.
