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New Statesman
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
HBO and the cursed child
Photo by Murray Close/ Getty Images A new Harry Potter TV show is taking shape. It's going to air over ten years on HBO, starting in 2026; its three child leads were announced last week and by the time it's done they'll be in their early twenties, lives in tatters. So everyone says. 'Please protect these children from any evil adults that they encounter,' says one poster. Hermione's new actress resembles the book character but is of ambiguous ethnicity; there are more commenters predicting floods of racist abuse than actually giving it out. A high-profile Harry Potter news account laments that their parents have 'thrust them' into 'JK Rowling's toxic sphere of influence;' Emma Watson's father has issued a stern warning to the new cast's families about the difficulties of childhood fame; a TV reporter at Metro has taken the cue to write how she is 'truly concerned about what will happen to the new Harry, Ron, and Hermione.' Newly confirmed castmembers Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin, and Alastair Stout. Photograph by Courtesy of Aidan Monaghan/HBO You can't even blame the onlookers for pre-empting a trauma story: the depths of human depravity surface so regularly in our popular culture that you can barely refer to them as 'depths' anymore. We seem to live in a very early Germanic fairy tale, with predators around every corner. There's a thriving market for 'misery lit,' those books that come with Elena Ferrante-style pastel covers but actually feature detailed and disturbing descriptions of child abuse. I'm Glad My Mom Died, an abuse memoir by ex-Nickolodeon star Jeanette McCurdy, has sold over two million copies; Netflix's executives seem obsessed with running documentaries about the sordid depths of children's TV and the kidfluencer sphere. Audiences are no longer satisfied by news reports; traumatic events must get verbal or thespian play-by-plays, as in HBO's Leaving Neverland and the BBC's Jimmy Savile drama The Reckoning. The trauma-seeking impulse seems even stronger the further you go back: you can make thousands on YouTube uploading videos with titles like 'Disturbing Horrors Behind Shirley Temple That'll RUIN Your Childhood.' This obsession did not always exist. It didn't have to because Hollywood used to be interesting. There were stars and their stock characters, a network of in-house 'fan magazines', the industry worked like a soap opera. This system mostly died out with the stars themselves. There is no grand narrative anymore: Hollywood is staffed by independent contractors and filled with bits of blind gossip that diverge from each other Rashomon-style. The best way to make meaning out of this fragmented industry is by searching for abuse and trauma. To howl about the 'evil adults' lurking on the banks of Hollywood's Styx. We're in a depression, but there can never be another Shirley Temple to dance us out of it; the culture industries that used to hold people in thrall are now under permanent suspicion. The online commenters have it twisted. Hollywood is obsessed with its Lindsay Lohans and Amanda Bynseses, but you never hear about the child stars who haven't been scarred; well-adjusted adults do nothing for the larger narrative. The original three actors made it to adulthood seemingly unscathed and accessed opportunities that would have likely been off-limits without their cultural cache; you can't automatically predict that the new cast will go off the rails, and you can't blame the parents for setting their talented children up for life. In the age of national pessimism it is cheering to see a British cultural property spawning multiple generations of celebrities. We should suspend our disbelief and be happy for them. [See more: The People's Republic of iPhone] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
Style Blueprint
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Style Blueprint
3 Binge-Worthy Celebrity Memoirs That Surprised Me
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit Editor's Note: At StyleBlueprint, we love to support small businesses. With that in mind, we've included purchase link options for both Amazon and a platform devoted to independent bookstores. *********** I recently realized my reading preferences shift with the seasons — and with warmer weather and an uptick in road trips on the horizon, I've found myself craving quick, engaging books that don't skimp on personality. Enter: my latest hyperfixation, celebrity memoirs. As a self-proclaimed pop culture enthusiast, this obsession feels inevitable. Covering everything from noteworthy scandals to the high cost of early fame, these three memoirs stood out to me for their honesty, heart, and headline-worthy moments. This article contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton Amazon | This memoir was, without a doubt, the biggest surprise for me. I went in knowing the basics of Paris Hilton's life — the fame, the money, the iconic style — but what I didn't expect was the depth of vulnerability she shared. Far beyond the glitz and glamour, Paris recounts her struggles with ADHD and exposes the 'troubled teen industry,' which left me with a newfound admiration for her strength and resilience. Pin From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough Amazon | I strongly recommend the audiobook version of From Here to the Great Unknown, as it includes actual audio clips of Lisa Marie Presley recorded during interviews for the book. As the only child of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie reflects on her upbringing at the legendary Graceland, the deep grief that followed her father's death, and how becoming a mother reshaped her perspective. She passed away before the book was completed, which makes hearing her daughter, Riley Keough's, reflections and memories even more poignant. It's a heartbreaking, reflective listen — and one that lingers long after it ends. Pin I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy Amazon | This memoir made major waves when it first debuted in 2022 — and for good reason. As someone who grew up watching Jennette McCurdy play cheerful, silly characters on Nickelodeon, I was floored by the reality she reveals behind the scenes. I'm Glad My Mom Died is dark, emotional, and unflinchingly honest, unpacking the childhood abuse she endured, the complexities of toxic family dynamics, and the long-term effects of childhood fame. It's a tough but extremely powerful book. Pin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. *********** Keep up with the best parts of life in the South. Subscribe to StyleBlueprint! About the Author Brianna Goebel Brianna is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Sponsored Content Manager. She is an avid fan of iced coffee and spends her free time reading romance novels.
