Aud Mason-Hyde, the non-binary co-star of veteran actor John Lithgow, has publicly branded his casting in the upcoming Harry Potter television series as both hurtful and difficult. The criticism emerges amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the franchise's creator, J.K. Rowling, and her publicly stated opposition to transgender rights.
Lithgow's Role as Dumbledore Sparks Backlash
The American actor, aged 80, is set to portray the cherished Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in HBO's highly anticipated television adaptation. This new series will revisit Rowling's wizarding world, originally comprising seven bestselling books and an eight-part film saga. The franchise has been persistently shadowed by controversy since 2019, when Rowling's views on transgender issues first came to light, leading many to label her a TERF, or trans-exclusionary radical feminist.
A Personal and Professional Conflict
Mason-Hyde, who stars alongside Lithgow and Olivia Colman in the 2025 film Jimpa, conceded that Lithgow is "a beautiful human" and a remarkably talented actor. However, they did not hold back in expressing their profound disappointment, describing his decision to accept the Potter role as "disconcerting, difficult and hurtful."
Their pointed comments arrive in the direct wake of Lithgow himself addressing the mounting criticism over his casting choice. The actor revealed that a friend with a transgender child had sent him a link to an article titled 'An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter,' an action he admitted made him feel distinctly "uncomfortable."
Co-Star Dynamics and Disappointment
In Jimpa, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Mason-Hyde plays Frances, the non-binary child of Olivia Colman's character Hannah, while Lithgow portrays Hannah's father. Reflecting on their working relationship, Mason-Hyde offered heartfelt praise, stating they never felt invalidated or doubted in their identity by Lithgow during filming.
"He is such an incredibly talented actor, but also such a beautiful human to make work with," they said. "I consistently felt that he was a very loving and a very guiding co-star. And so there's an element of this that feels vaguely hurtful."
They emphasised that Lithgow's decision to join the Harry Potter project came after they had completed and premiered their film together. "It was definitely a difficult moment in time," Mason-Hyde added. "I don't think it's worth speaking to John's reasoning by any means, but I do also think that it's a strange decision, for sure. And also I found it disconcerting, maybe, is the right word."
Lithgow's Defence of the Project
Anticipating further backlash, John Lithgow spoke candidly about the situation at the Rotterdam Film Festival last week. He expressed taking the subject "extremely seriously" but defended the core themes of the Harry Potter canon.
"It upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to me having anything to do with this," Lithgow stated. "But in Potter canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She has written this meditation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role."
He further explained that Rowling is not involved in the new television production, which is being helmed by a team he described as "remarkable." Acknowledging the difficulty of the choice, he said, "It was a hard decision. It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that."
Wider Context and Co-Star's Identity
Mason-Hyde's comments follow co-star Olivia Colman's own recent reflections on gender identity. In a promotional interview for Jimpa, Colman revealed she has always "felt sort of nonbinary" and never entirely comfortable with rigid feminine gender roles.
"I've never felt massively feminine in my being female," the Oscar-winning actress explained. "I've always described myself to my husband as a gay man. And he goes, 'Yeah I get that.' And so I do feel at home and at ease."
Colman, married to Ed Sinclair for over two decades, added that she does not spend much time with "very staunchly heterosexual" people and believes everyone possesses a spectrum of gendered qualities. "I came away from making this film with, yeah, I knew I wasn't alone," she concluded.
The casting for the new Harry Potter series was revealed in April of last year. Alongside Lithgow as Dumbledore, the ensemble includes Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, setting the stage for a fresh interpretation of the beloved magical universe amidst its ongoing real-world controversies.
