Nick Frost has seemingly taken steps to shut down criticism over his upcoming involvement in the TV adaptation of the Harry Potter book series. Earlier this week, US broadcaster HBO confirmed widespread rumours that Nick will be playing Hagrid in the new show, alongside Kaos’ Janet McTeer, I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu, Luke Thallon, and Paul Whitehouse as Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Argus Filch, and Professor Quirrell, respectively.
Celebrating the news, the Shaun Of The Dead actor posted a selfie on Instagram holding the first Harry Potter book. “You’re a wizard, Harry!!!” he enthused. “Thank you for trusting me with such a loyal, gentle and courageous half-giant like Rubeus Hagrid.” Paying tribute to the late Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in all eight Harry Potter movies, he added: “Robbie, I promise I won’t let you down.”
However, Nick’s announcement was apparently not well-received by all, with many reportedly voicing their upset about his decision to take part in a show co-produced by Harry Potter author JK Rowling. In recent history, Rowling has become a divisive figure thanks to her repeated comments about members of the LGBTQ+ community, more specifically transgender people, which has included repeated instances of deliberately misgendering trans public figures. Last week, she also raised eyebrows when she referred to International Asexual Day as “International Fake Oppression Day” on X.
Seemingly in response to this criticism, Nick subsequently disabled comments on his Instagram post, although Metro and Pink News observed that some fans continued to discuss his casting elsewhere on his account. HuffPost UK has contacted Nick Frost’s team for comment.
John Lithgow received a similar response back in February when he announced that he would be playing Albus Dumbledore in the project. Towards the end of last year, HBO defended JK Rowling’s involvement in the TV reworking of her books. “We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance,” a spokesperson told Variety. “JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”
Fans of Harry Potter have been left excited by the first cast announcement for a new TV series based on the books by JK Rowling. The HBO original aims to open up the wizarding books to a whole new audience. Edinburgh-based Rowling will act as an executive producer on the series, which follows on from the eight films released between 2001 and 2011, which starred Daniel Radcliffe as the titular wizard.
While the child stars of the new show have yet to be confirmed, many of the adult roles have been filled. Among those to bag a part is English actress Janet McTeer. Best known for her theatre work, the 63-year-old will play head of Gryffindor House, Professor Minerva McGonagall, who was portrayed by the legendary Dame Maggie Smith in the film series. McTeer studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts before beginning her career with the Royal Exchange Theatre and received a Tony and Olivier award in 1997 for best actress in a play for playing Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House. She has since appeared in the likes of Gangs Of London, Ozark, Kaos, and The Menu.
In 2012, she received an Oscar nomination for her role in Albert Nobbs alongside Glenn Close. In it, she portrays a woman pretending to be a man. Speaking about the role in 2023, McTeer said she was keen to avoid making her character of Hubert Page a "victim" of identity politics. Speaking to the Telegraph, she said: "I remember people at the time saying, ‘Well, was she transgender or was she a lesbian?’ And I’d say, ‘Hubert lives in that time. And in Hubert’s time, Hubert’s just Hubert.’"
She added: "I wanted to show someone at ease in the body they were born in, rather than as a label. Now we have a million labels and they are all great. But back then you could just go, ‘I dunno, this is what makes me happy.’" McTeer was also widely praised for playing a man in a Shakespeare production. She took on the part of Petruchio in Phyllida Lloyd’s 2003 all-female production of The Taming of the Shrew.
Rowling, 59, has yet to comment on the cast announcement. Over the past five years, she has become a major player in the transgender debate and has argued vehemently in defence of women's rights. She has rejected suggestions that trans women are real women and opposed legislation aimed at making it easier for biological men to legally identify as women. While her focus has been on men transitioning to female, Rowling has spoken generally about trans ideology and earlier this year asserted on social media: "There are no trans kids. No child is ‘born in the wrong body’." In a response to another user, she added: "...there are only adults like you, prepared to sacrifice the health of minors to bolster your belief in an ideology that will end up wreaking more harm than lobotomies and false-memory syndrome combined.”
Of course, a woman playing a woman pretending to be a man on screen is not in the same league as someone undergoing surgery to alter their body. Rowling has not commented on women playing men on screen. Her views saw her become estranged from the child stars of the original Harry Potter films. As well as Radcliffe, the likes of Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have distanced themselves from the writer despite her work turning them into international stars.
Others to be confirmed for the new series include John Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell.
