Keira Knightley and Kit Harington have been criticised by Harry Potter fans after joining the cast of Audible's The Full-Cast Audio Editions. Knightley, 40, will voice Dolores Umbridge, while Harington, 37, will play Gilderoy Lockhart. The series, featuring over 200 actors, includes Hugh Laurie as Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort, and Riz Ahmed as Snape.
The backlash stems from author J.K. Rowling's controversial views on transgender issues, which led many original film actors to distance themselves from her. Critics online have accused Knightley and Harington of 'selling out' by participating in a Rowling-adjacent project. One fan tweeted: 'I can’t believe Keira is doing this.'
Rowling has previously stated: 'If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.' She has also emphasised: 'I feel nothing but empathy and solidarity with trans women who've been abused by men.' Despite the controversy, the audiobook production continues.
Audible plans to release the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, on November 4, followed by Chamber of Secrets on December 16. Subsequent books will be released monthly in 2026. Newcomers Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton will voice Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the first three books.
Neither Knightley nor Harington have responded to the online criticism.
