JKR and new HP HBO tie up

[mids2019]

So JKR is going to be executive producer for the multi-million 10 year Harry Potter franchise on HBO. There is no way a company would risk huge amounts of money if there was a significant chance of people boycotting the films due to JKR's pro women's views.

Also her views are so well known that any new actors taking parts presumably cannot suddenly start criticising her after making lucrative careers for themselves after starring in the films!

The positive reaction and backing of HBO is proof that outside Twitter people either agree with JK or don't care.

Totally agree Tom Felton should be cast as Lucius Malfoy. He was one of the few that didn't jump on the 'cancel JK' bandwagon.

I would like Tom Felton to be in there somewhere but I think a cameo would be better, a main role would be a bit too breaking of the suspension of disbelief for me. I'd be too busy going "look, it's Tom Felton!" to believe him as the character. Same for the guy who played Neville (who's name I have temporarily forgotten!).

Matthew Lewis! That's him.

I'm not sure I ever saw any interviews with JKR when the original films came out. Did she have much of a say about casting and screenplay (or was she back at home frantically scribbling away at the rest of the stories)?

Peter Capaldi or David Tennant for Snape, anybody? Or maybe Andrew Scott?

I can't see it being anything other than a huge success with such advances in tech/filmography (the first HP film came out in 2001!).

She made it a condition of the film adaptation that it had to be made in Britain and with a British cast - but I don't think she was involved in the casting of individual actors.

Very excited!
His Dark Materials was amazing, so I have high hopes for this.

When I watched the first films I had not read the books and it was so choppy and jumping about, the stories were rather bad.

But this should be good 😃

What on earth happened to the Fantastic Beasts? The first film was so enjoyable, and then just a straight Plummet to the sea of forgettables.

I think if he's a good enough actor he could pull it off. I have no idea how good he is these days as haven't seen him in anything - any recommendations?

I would love to see Evanna Lynch as Trelawney. She'd be great.

David Tennant would be great, he's such a good actor. Someone with those kind of acting chops needs to be Snape.

This is so exciting, really pleased I saw your post

I suggest James McAvoy for Snape - but - Chris Ecclestone for Dumbledore if you are in a DW casting moment. Oliver Chris for Lucius Malfoy and WILDCARD Nish Kumar for Hagrid(!) James Acaster for Peeves.

I have a casting opinion on the entire adult cast, which might be better off in film/telly topic.

I could really bore on about this all day... it IS very exciting.

I really love the character of Snape - the reality that someone can be really very unpleasant and difficult to interact with day to day, hold petty grievances and yet, when push comes to shove be a good person and do the right thing with great bravery. That being 'nice' is not the same as being 'good'. And the kids confusion about this - for so long they think Snape MUST be evil just because he's unlikeable.

As a woman who likes to have boundaries and say 'no' to men - which is considered 'not nice' - I feel this is a very important distinction for children to learn.

The casting for the films was a complete failure. I can’t imagine how they got it so wrong. Also hopefully they’ll ditch that awful music. They really killed the first 3 films with too much 🎵

I think some of the adult casting was good, but not the kids, the 3 main characters were awful.

I loved Rickman as Snape, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Helena BH as Bellatrix, Maggie Smith as McGonagall and Staunton as the delightfully smug Umbridge. Branagh was a wonderful Lockhart too.

Helena BC (sorry) - great actress, she really did a fantastic Bellatrix.

Maybe Jared Harris as Dumbledore to honour his father who died after playing Dumbledore in the first two movies.

I had a go at reading one of these books a while ago, and was so incredibly and profoundly bored and disappointed. I really wanted to like it.

I was expecting something quite new and creative and different but it seemed to me to be hugely derivative- not just in theme, tropes, and plot arc - all understandable - but so very many other details and sub plots, in my view clumsily presented, and finished with a coy wink.

I guess anything that encourages a child to read is ok.

Relentless marketing of yet another merchandising opportunity maybe not so much.

I’m super excited for it, absolutely loved the game and looking forward to any DLC’s or sequels, the sales have been through the roof for the game so I doubt they are worried about anyone boycotting the tv series.

She also insisted on using British companies for special effects etc which is one of the reasons why we punch above our weight so much in the industry as a country. Quite remarkable to think how many jobs she has been responsible for in the arts really.

Jared Harris would be good as Dumbledore, I agree.

Who do we think for Bellatrix? Or Voldemort?

@Snapespeare for casting director! I LOVE your suggestions.

The only tragedy is that we still can't (and never will) have Rik Mayall as Peeves. I would have LOVED to have seen that.

Also, my stupid phone keeps trying to autocorrect 'Rik ' to 'Risotto '...

He already played barty crouch junior though.

I hope they stick to the same rules as the film in that only British actors play the roles. I really don't want to see it Americanised.

I need to read the books again, it's been a few years.

That’s a brilliant idea! She’d be perfect.

And probably JKR is less petty than I am, but if some of the original cast make it into the new series, it’s amusing to think of the look on the faces of the twerps who thought slagging off JKR was a good career move. Even Emma Watson’s star is fading now that she’s proved she can’t act.