'Harry Potter' Director Says Film Adaptation Of 'Harry Potter And The Cursed Child' Won't Happen Due To J.K. Rowling's Politics, Rowling Appears To Respond

Director Christopher Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films and produced the third ones says that an adaptations of the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child can’t happen due to J.K. Rowling’s politics.

Back in 2021, Columbus spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his desire to do an adaptation of the play. He told the outlet, “A version of Cursed Child with Dan, Rupert and Emma at the right age, it’s cinematic bliss. If you’re a film nerd or cinephile, it’s kind of like what J.J. [Abrams] did with Star Wars. Star Wars really started to be great again when J.J. made the film and we had all the original cast back. There’s no question if you’re a Star Wars fan, you were moved just seeing them on screen, seeing Harrison Ford as Han Solo again — and Chewy. It was very moving.”

“I think that would be the same situation for Harry Potter fans. To able to actually see these adult actors now back in these roles? Oh, yeah. It would be amazingly fun to make that film — or two films,” he added.

However, in a recent interview with The Times UK he does not believe an adaptation is possible due to J.K. Rowling’s politics. He explained, “It’s never going to happen. It’s gotten so complicated with all the political stuff. Everyone in the cast has their own opinion, which is different from her opinion, which makes it impossible.”

“I haven’t spoken to Miss Rowling in a decade or so, so I have no idea what’s going on with her, but I keep very close contact with Daniel Radcliffe and I just spoke to him a few days ago,” he said. “I still have a great relationship with all the kids in the cast.”

Rowling appeared to respond to Columbus’ comments among others in a post to X. She wrote, “As another man who once worked with me declares himself saddened by my beliefs on gender and sex, I thought it might be useful to compile a list for handy reference. Which of the following do you imagine makes actors and directors who aren’t involved with the HBO reboot of Harry Potter so miserable?

• Is it my belief that women and girls should have their own public changing rooms and bathrooms?

• That women should retain female-only rape crisis centres?

• That men don’t belong in women’s sport?

• That female prisoners shouldn’t be incarcerated with violent men and male sex offenders?

• That women should remain a protected class in law, because they have sex-specific needs and issues?

• That language should reflect reality rather than ideological jargon, especially in a medical context?

• That women shouldn’t be harassed, persecuted or fired for refusing to pretend humans can change sex?

• That women should not be threatened with violence and rape when they assert their rights?

• That freedom of speech and belief are essential to a pluralistic democratic society?

• That troubled minors, especially those who are gay, autistic and trauma-experienced, should be given mental health support instead of irreversible surgeries and drug treatments on non-existent evidence of benefit?

• That gay people shouldn’t be pressured to include the opposite sex in their dating pools, nor should they be smeared as ‘genital fetishists’ when they don’t?

• That cross-dressing heterosexual male fetishists aren’t actually oppressed, but having the time of their lives piggybacking off gender identity ideology?

• That said ideology, and the privileged, blinkered fools pushing it because they suffer zero consequences themselves, have done more damage to the political left’s credibility than Trump and Farage could have achieved in a century?

Let me have your thoughts,” she concluded.

For clarity, as far as this writer is aware, Rowling still is a believer in gender ideology. Back in June 2020, she wrote, “I want to be very clear here: I know transition will be a solution for some gender dysphoric people.” There is no circumstance where transitioning will be a solution.

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