Bel Powley disagrees with J. K. Rowling's gender views

Bel Powley, cast as Petunia Dursley in the upcoming HBO television adaptation of the Harry Potter franchise, has publicly expressed her disagreement with author J. K. Rowling’s views on gender. In an interview with The Telegraph, Powley stated, “I strongly disagree with J. K. Rowling’s views on gender,” adding that the transgender community deserves “safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”

Despite her stance on these social issues, Powley noted her continued affection for the source material, stating she grew up reading the books and loves the magic of the series. She is part of a larger cast that includes John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost. Lithgow has also previously addressed the controversy, noting that while he disagrees with much of Rowling’s rhetoric, he chose to remain in the project because the reasons to participate were stronger than the reasons to protest.

The new series is scheduled to premiere on December 25, 2026, on HBO and will be available for streaming on Max. The production aims to reimagine the original books for television, with each season dedicated to a specific installment of the saga.