J.K. Rowling hits back at Stephen Fry after he calls her ‘lost cause'
The actor, who had previously described Rowling as "a friend of mine", criticised the Harry Potter author, for her outspoken views on transgender rights on The Show People podcast last week. The 67-year-old, who narrated the audiobooks for all seven Harry Potter novels, said that he feared she had been 'radicalised', by trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) and expressed concern that she "seems to be a lost cause for us'. Jolyon Maugham, the founder of the Good Law Project, shared Fry's quotes on X over the weekend, and praised The Hobbit star for being brave enough to speak out...
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Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
J.K. Rowling reveals true extent of her role in new Harry Potter - as fans raise their biggest issue with the forthcoming HBO TV series
J.K. Rowling has revealed she did not write any of the scripts for the controversial new Harry Potter TV series, but claims she "worked closely" with the writers. The upcoming HBO adaptation of the British author's seven-volume fantasy series into a long-form TV show is set to start filming in the UK in less than a month, with Dominic McLaughlin cast for the titular role. Rowling took to X on Sunday to express her excitement after officially reviewing the scripts for the first two episodes. "I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series, and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!" the 59-year-old wrote. However, fans were quick to point out the author's admission meant she had not written the scripts herself despite being an executive producer. "So you are not doing the writing for this show?" one bemused person commented. Rowling responded to the fan by saying "no, but" she has "worked closely with the extremely talented writers" of the series. Although the creator of the novels is one of the executive producers for the new show, she was not brought on as a full-time screenwriter. Rowling still retains creative control over any exploitation of her work and has agreements in place with Warner Bros, which grant her some creative oversight and influence over the making of the long-form series. Meanwhile, fans all turned their attention to actor Paapa Essiedu being cast as Severus Snape in the comments of Rowling's new post. The Hogwarts professor, originally played by Alan Rickman in the films, is a pivotal character in the plot and is widely regarded as a beloved figure. "Great news. Now, can we get a character-appropriate Snape casting please?" one fan wrote. "Now just recast Snape, and it will be perfect!" another fan wrote. "They'll be even better with a different actor playing Snape," one more person wrote. Another person said the casting seems "too woke", and they'll wait and "see" whether they are a fan of the series. HBO in April confirmed Essiedu would play Snape in the new Harry Potter, sparking discussion and some controversy among fans early on. Essiedu will join a star-studded ensemble, including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy in the awaited series revamp. Alastair Stout has been cast as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermoine Granger. The latest backlash heaped on Essiedu comes after he joined the original Harry Potter stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, in expressing opposition to Rowling's views on transgender issues. The actor was one of 400 signatories of an open letter addressed to the film and TV industry bodies in support of the trans community in April. Nevertheless, HBO chief Casey Bloys last November said Rowling's views have not "affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff.' A spokesperson for the network said she "has a right to express her personal views" and the new series will "benefit from her involvement." Rowling recently celebrated the ruling that only biological women meet the definition of a woman under equality laws in a landmark case. She has previously mocked the phrase "people who menstruate", said women's rights and "lived reality" would be "erased" if "sex isn't real", and called a list of trans women "men, every last one of them".
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Nearly 100 jets to fly into Venice for Bezos wedding
More than 90 private jets carrying around 200 celebrity guests to the wedding of Amazon founder Jef Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are expected to arrive at Venice's Marco Polo airport over the days ahead, the Corriere della Sera newspaper has reported. Among those arriving in their own jets are TV personalities Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian and billionaires Eric Schmidt of Google and Bill Gates of Microsoft. "Marco Polo airport will practically become the global capital of the star system for almost a week," the newspaper reported on Monday. Citing aviation sources, it said that 95 landings had thus far been registered. The first guests are expected on Tuesday. The city is already thronged with tourists crowding its narrow streets. It is not yet known when Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, will arrive. The wedding celebration is expected to be held on Friday. Italian media report that Bezos' private yacht, the Koru, is currently off the Croatian coast. The couple is reported to have booked a suite at the Aman Venice, a hotel on the Grand Canal, where George Clooney and his wife Amal stayed when they got married in the city in 2014. The entire week has been arranged by London-based event managers Lanza & Baucina. More than 90 private jets carrying around 200 celebrity guests to the wedding of Amazon founder Jef Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are expected to arrive at Venice's Marco Polo airport over the days ahead, the Corriere della Sera newspaper has reported. Among those arriving in their own jets are TV personalities Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian and billionaires Eric Schmidt of Google and Bill Gates of Microsoft. "Marco Polo airport will practically become the global capital of the star system for almost a week," the newspaper reported on Monday. Citing aviation sources, it said that 95 landings had thus far been registered. The first guests are expected on Tuesday. The city is already thronged with tourists crowding its narrow streets. It is not yet known when Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, will arrive. The wedding celebration is expected to be held on Friday. Italian media report that Bezos' private yacht, the Koru, is currently off the Croatian coast. The couple is reported to have booked a suite at the Aman Venice, a hotel on the Grand Canal, where George Clooney and his wife Amal stayed when they got married in the city in 2014. The entire week has been arranged by London-based event managers Lanza & Baucina. More than 90 private jets carrying around 200 celebrity guests to the wedding of Amazon founder Jef Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are expected to arrive at Venice's Marco Polo airport over the days ahead, the Corriere della Sera newspaper has reported. Among those arriving in their own jets are TV personalities Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian and billionaires Eric Schmidt of Google and Bill Gates of Microsoft. "Marco Polo airport will practically become the global capital of the star system for almost a week," the newspaper reported on Monday. Citing aviation sources, it said that 95 landings had thus far been registered. The first guests are expected on Tuesday. The city is already thronged with tourists crowding its narrow streets. It is not yet known when Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, will arrive. The wedding celebration is expected to be held on Friday. Italian media report that Bezos' private yacht, the Koru, is currently off the Croatian coast. The couple is reported to have booked a suite at the Aman Venice, a hotel on the Grand Canal, where George Clooney and his wife Amal stayed when they got married in the city in 2014. The entire week has been arranged by London-based event managers Lanza & Baucina. More than 90 private jets carrying around 200 celebrity guests to the wedding of Amazon founder Jef Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are expected to arrive at Venice's Marco Polo airport over the days ahead, the Corriere della Sera newspaper has reported. Among those arriving in their own jets are TV personalities Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian and billionaires Eric Schmidt of Google and Bill Gates of Microsoft. "Marco Polo airport will practically become the global capital of the star system for almost a week," the newspaper reported on Monday. Citing aviation sources, it said that 95 landings had thus far been registered. The first guests are expected on Tuesday. The city is already thronged with tourists crowding its narrow streets. It is not yet known when Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, will arrive. The wedding celebration is expected to be held on Friday. Italian media report that Bezos' private yacht, the Koru, is currently off the Croatian coast. The couple is reported to have booked a suite at the Aman Venice, a hotel on the Grand Canal, where George Clooney and his wife Amal stayed when they got married in the city in 2014. The entire week has been arranged by London-based event managers Lanza & Baucina.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
JK Rowling clarifies her involvement in HBO's Harry Potter series amid anti-trans controversy
JK Rowling "worked closely" with the writers of the HBO Harry Potter series. The writer of the original wizarding franchise has clarified that she did not write the forthcoming spin-off series, but she did assist the team. She posted to X: 'I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!' When as follower asked if she penned the series, she replied: "No, but I've worked closely with the extremely talented writers.' HBO chief Casey Bloys already claimed Rowling's own views - including her controversial anti-trans statements - won't influence the new show. He told The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast: 'The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. 'We've been in business for 25 years. We already have a show on HBO from her called C.B. Strike that we do with the BBC. 'It's pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She's entitled to them. Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. If you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter." Bloys insisted the focus is on "what's on the screen", rather than any opinions away from the story. He added: "Our priority is what's on the screen. Obviously, the 'Harry Potter' story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That's our priority — what's on screen.' Rowling also previously insisted she won't fire Paapa Essiedu from Harry Potter over his support for the trans community. The 35-year-old actor - who is set to play Severus Snape in the adaptation - was among more than 400 actors who signed their name on a petition which called for the UK's entertainment industry to provide protection for transgender people following the Supreme Court's ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex. Responding to an article pondering whether she'd remove him from the show over his views, she wrote on X: "I don't have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn't exercise it if I did. "I don't believe in taking away people's jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.' Rowling has been vocally anti-trans, and supported the Supreme Court's ruling. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson - who played Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in the original film franchise - have all spoken out in support of trans people.
