Latest news with #DefenceAgainsttheDarkArts
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Nick Frost addresses taking over iconic role in controversial Harry Potter series
Nick Frost has spoken out about his casting as Rubeus Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, which has been plagued with controversy over author JK Rowling's anti-trans views Nick Frost has shared his aspirations to portray the beloved character Hagrid in the anticipated Harry Potter television adaptation. The esteemed actor from Hot Fuzz, 53, is set to step into the shoes of Robbie Coltrane, who memorably depicted the amiable giant and Keeper of Keys throughout the film series. Nick will join an illustrious cast including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall. Luke Thallon is slated to bring Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Quirinus Quirrell to life, whereas comedy veteran Paul Whitehouse will depict Squib janitor Argus Filch. The coveted lead roles have been awarded to Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Staunton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Controversy surrounds the TV series, which has seen some Potter enthusiasts threatening to shun the HBO adaptation due to author JK Rowling's contentious views on transgender issues. While initially remaining out of the discussion surrounding the show by restricting comments following his Instagram announcement, Nick has since addressed his involvement more openly. In conversation with Collider, he expressed: "You get cast because you're going to bring something to that. While I'm really aware of what went before me in terms of Robbie's amazing performance, I'm never going to try and be Robbie." Offering insight into his approach to the role, he added: "I'm going to try and do something, not 'different,' I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there's scope for minutia. I always read Hagrid as he's like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child. "I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can't wait. He's funny! I want it to be funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike. That's what I'm planning on doing." When Nick first announced his role as Hagrid on social media, he faced backlash from fans who criticised Rowling's views, which have been labelled as transphobic. Several original cast members, including Daniel Radcliffe, David Tennant and Emma Watson, have publicly disagreed with Rowling, leading to disappointment among Nick's fans about his involvement in the franchise. "Actor Nick Frost is currently getting destroyed on his Instagram for willingly joining the cast of JK Rowling's new Harry Potter TV show reboot and tacitly supporting her irredeemable bigotry. It's so bad he disabled comments on a post holding up a Harry Potter book. Not great," one person had written on X. "Honestly, I am shocked by him. I genuinely had more faith in him," another said. While further details of the series are still under wraps, HBO's chief content officer earlier this year emphasised that the TV show is "not secretly being infused" with any views when discussing Rowling's beliefs. In the wake of the massive controversy, which has seen Rowling lose a significant number of fans, Casey Bloys stated: "The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. We've been in business for 25 years." During an appearance on The Town podcast, when questioned about his concerns regarding her opinions, he elaborated: "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. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter." The Harry Potter TV series is expected to air in 2027.
BBC News
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The mythical creature from Harry Potter that has northern roots
Those familiar with Harry Potter will have heard of the mythical grindylow, described in the JK Rowling novels as a small, horned water demon with pointed while they might not be as well known as Scotland's Loch Ness Monster, the north of England can claim the strange creatures as their thought to have appeared in folklore tales across Lancashire and Yorkshire, the grindylow's purpose was to make children across the North brush their teeth or stay away from deep the stories go, the creatures, also known as Jenny Greenteeth or Peg Prowler, would stretch out their long spindly arms to grab children from the edge of pools. "You can see how parents would pass these tales on to children as an educational warning for them not to go near stagnant water," says Dr David Clarke, who is project lead for the National Folklore Survey."What better way to ingrain into children that they're dangerous."The grindylows appeared in the third and fourth novel of the Harry Potter series, first in Remus Lupin's Defence Against the Dark Arts class, and then again where they tried to disrupt the eponymous hero as he faced an underwater challenge in the Triwizard now, they are set to appear on a new Royal Mail stamp collection featuring mythical creatures and fabled figures from UK stamps will include the Loch Ness Monster, Cornish piskies, and Beowulf and Grendel. Willow Winsham, co-author of the Treasury of Folklore book series, says: "While recent books and films have reimagined the grindylow, the stamp illustration remains faithful to traditional folklore."Grindylows are closely linked to river hags in Yorkshire and Lancashire folklore, namely Peg Powler, Nelly Longarms and Jenny Greenteeth."She says they are traditionally human-like creatures "who lurk at the bottom of rivers or ponds"."They're known for dragging children who venture too close to the water into the depths with their long, sinewy arms." Dr Clarke believes "in England, we're almost embarrassed by our folklore," pointing out how Scotland, for example, is proud to embrace folklore legends such as the Loch Ness afield he says about 20 universities in the US offer a masters qualification in folklore studies, compared to what he claims is just one in he reckons the new stamps highlight a recent "folklore revival" and is now leading a study on British folklore traditions on behalf of a group of universities."Folklore is the end result of oral tradition – some of it does get written down," says Dr 2024, the UK government adopted Unesco's convention on safeguarding "intangible cultural heritage", which covers stories passed down orally through says: "England particularly has a complex colonial history and the UK's folklore and national narratives need to be handled carefully and responsibly because of this."She believes folklore forms "an integral part of who we are and display our rich culture"."While we must also be wary of using folklore to exclude people or to push agendas, it's something wonderful if engaged with in a positive way." Winsham says that more and more there are "books, movies and TV shows featuring folklore abound and there is now a huge trend towards using folklore, even in gaming".Social media has also improved access to the traditions and urban legends and she is one of the founders of the #FolkloreThursday project, which has more than 60,000 followers."People are now able to communicate with others from across the globe in real time, sharing their local lore, tales and traditions with a huge audience instantly," she believes renewed interest is because folklore provides a "respite in a difficult world and help soothe us by letting us step outside of ourselves and our worries for just a short time".Dr Clarke says: "While technology and communication has its benefits, people feel they are missing something."He believes that young people are embracing folklore "strongly" and the trend was explored in last year's BBC series Charlie Cooper's Myth Country. "The natural world is not just plants and animals, but also the stories and traditions."He says this inspires a "sense of connection and identity", where people no longer feel like a "tiny cog in the machine"."They don't have power or influence but if they're part of a local community group, part of a tradition, they can get so much out of that connection." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
