Nick Frost has addressed his differences in opinion with Harry Potter author JK Rowling after being targeted by trans activists for accepting the role of Hagrid in HBO’s new Harry Potter series.
The vitriol towards the actor following the casting news earlier this year forced him to disable Instagram comments on his celebratory post.
The 53-year-old actor has now addressed the furore and claimed that whilst he disagrees with Rowling’s views on transgender rights, he believes both are entitled to their opinions.
“She’s allowed her opinion, and I’m allowed mine. They just don’t align in any way, shape, or form,” Frost said.
The Shaun of the Dead star faced a wave of criticism for collaborating with Rowling, who serves as executive producer on the upcoming series.
Despite the backlash, Frost remains committed to playing the beloved Hogwarts groundskeeper, a role made famous by the late Robbie Coltrane.
After sharing news of his casting in April, Frost was inundated with questions about loyalty and accusations of valuing money over human rights.
The criticism became so intense that he was forced to turn off comments on the Instagram post where he had posed with a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Despite blocking comments on his announcement post and limiting interactions since then, he continues to be targeted by trans activists.
The backlash stems from his decision to work with Rowling, who has become a vocal presence in the transgender debate and whose views have caused high-profile fallouts with original cast members including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.
When asked whether the debate might overshadow HBO’s series, Frost suggested it shouldn’t be swept aside. “I don’t know, but maybe it shouldn’t blow over? We shouldn’t just hope it will go away because it makes it easier. Maybe we should educate ourselves,” he told The Observer.
Frost revealed he had “manifested” his Hagrid casting by writing the character’s name down 5,000 times. In his announcement post, he paid tribute to his predecessor: “Thank you for trusting me with such a loyal, gentle, and courageous half-giant like Rubeus Hagrid. Robbie, I promise I won’t let you down.”
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The actor is not alone in disagreeing with Rowling’s views. Paapa Essiedu, who is set to play Severus Snape, was among more than 400 actors who signed a petition calling for the UK entertainment industry to protect the trans community.
The Harry Potter author addressed Essiedu’s stance head-on earlier this year amid fears their clash over the issue could put his role at risk.
Rowling penned on X: “I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did.
“I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
Rowling has been a prominent figure in the transgender debate since late 2019. Following a Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 that the legal definition of a woman in the UK Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex, Rowling has consistently referred to transgender women as “men”.
She opposes legislation enabling gender self-recognition without medical diagnosis and donated £70,000 to legal challenges against Scottish gender recognition reforms.
HBO’s Harry Potter series, set to begin filming this summer, has assembled a star-studded cast including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge.
The decade-long adaptation promises to stick more closely to Rowling’s original storylines than the blockbuster films.
Despite the controversy surrounding Rowling’s views, HBO chiefs have defended her role as executive producer, stating she has a “right to express her personal views”.
Rowling previously said: “Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me.
“And I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation, which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series.”
The new series aims to “lead a new generation of fandom” and is expected to premiere in 2026 or 2027.
