A day after HBO announced him as the actor who would play Harry Potter in its upcoming series, child actor Dominic McLaughlin has been subject to intense negativity online. While many netizens appreciate the series' makers for casting McLaughlin in the role, some expressed their disapproval. Reactions range from the ones that question McLaughlin's acting abilities to the Harry Potter franchise's history of going against conventions. Internet users have criticised HBO for casting an actor for a Harry Potter without green eyes, unlike the version in the books by JK Rowling. Most of the hatred for the Harry Potter series stems from executive producer Rowling's own anti-trans stance. Fans continue to harbour intense dislike for Rowling's involvement in the series, and this has spilt over to the series' cast as well. Some of them responded to McLaughlin's casting with allusions to Rowling's past claims about detransitioning.
The latest comments follow a pattern of similar campaigns against the series and its makers. Ever since they announced Rowling as its executive producer, many netizens have been calling her out for disgracing transgender people and the makers for choosing her for the role.
Amid all the flak online, some have rallied behind McLaughlin, getting back at those spreading negativity against a child actor. They praise HBO for choosing an actor with a similar physical profile to Daniel Radcliffe. Interestingly, the announcement regarding the series came a day before the release of the final film in the film franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
Meanwhile, fans of the book, who despise the very idea of the Harry Potter series, have criticised the casting of Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape as well. In the original series, Alan Rickman plays the role of the Professor of Potions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
