Has J.K. Rowling jeopardised the future of "Fantastic Beasts 3"?
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11 Jun – Fans have been looking forward to the third instalment of the "Fantastic Beasts" movie series but with the way things are going now, chances of the threequel ever making it to the big screen are getting slimmer.
It's not just because of the pandemic halting production or its stars' clashing schedules, it's also due to the growing negativity that's directed towards author and "Harry Potter" franchise creator J.K. Rowling.
After tweeting a series of anti-transgender comments last weekend, Rowling today took to her website jk.rowling.com to defend said comments with a long letter.
The lengthy essay detailed her reasons for making the comments and also revealed that she was sexually assaulted in her 20s.
"Like every other domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor I know, I feel nothing but empathy and solidarity with trans women who've been abused by men," she stated.
"So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman – and, as I've said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth."
Despite trying to defend her recent comments, many still think that the author is in the wrong, especially given her history of supporting transphobic statements, which greatly disappoints fans who loved her books that many take to celebrate diversity and inclusivity.
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Even her franchise stars are noticeably irked and have stepped up to defend transgender women.
Daniel Radcliffe, best known for playing the titular star of the "Harry Potter" movies, voiced out against Rowling even prior to her long letter's release, writing one of his own on The Trevor Project's website. Eddie Redmayne, who stars as Newt Scamander in the "Fantastic Beasts" movies, also told Variety that he disagreed with Rowling's statements.
The Hermione Grangers of the franchise, Emma Watson and Noma Dumezweni (the former starred in the movies while the latter in the stage production of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"), both tweeted their support for transgender women.
Fellow "Harry Potter" cast members Evanna Lynch and Katie Leung, as well as actresses not from the franchise such as Jameela Jamil and Sarah Paulson, have also condemned Rowling.
Circling back to "Fantastic Beasts 3". The movie is expected to be released in cinemas late next year, provided filming can resume soon. But it also depends on how Warner Bros. is planning to handle the Rowling situation, not to mention its casting issue.
Ezra Miller was embroiled in a scandal for allegedly hitting a woman back in April and there have long been disagreements on whether Johnny Depp should continue starring in it due to his lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard.
