A reunion with the “Harry Potter” cast might just be as mythical as the magical world of Hogwarts itself, according to director Chris Columbus.
Columbus, who directed the first two films in the wizarding franchise, has expressed a strong interest in directing a movie adaptation of the stage play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” But controversy around J.K. Rowling’s history of transphobic remarks seems to have cast a permanent hex over that dream.
“It’s never going to happen,” Columbus told The Times in an interview published on Saturday. “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.”
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker went on to reveal that he hasn’t spoken to Rowling in “a decade or so,” adding that he has “no idea what’s going on with her.”
Still, Columbus says he maintains a “great relationship” with several members of the original cast, and even spoke with star Daniel Radcliffe mere days ago.
Several actors have publicly condemned Rowling’s comments in recent years, and more voices continue to speak out. In April, Pedro Pascal weighed in after activist Tariq Ra’ouf posted a video calling Rowling’s actions “some serious Voldemort villain shit.”
In a blunt comment on the video, the actor wrote, “Awful disgusting SHIT is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior.”
The “Fantastic Four” actor later doubled down in a June Vanity Fair profile, explaining that his stance is deeply personal — his sister, Lux Pascal, is a transgender actor and activist.
“Listen, I want to protect the people I love,” Pascal said. “But it goes beyond that,” he added. “Bullies make me fucking sick.”