HBO’s 'Harry Potter' gets a hard no from 'Black Mirror,' 'Loki' directors over JK Rowling’s trans views

"Black Mirror" director Ally Pankiw and "Loki" director Kate Herron said Thursday on Instagram that they rejected opportunities to pursue directing work on HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series because of J.K.

Rowling's views on transgender issues, extending the controversy surrounding the adaptation to prominent behind-the-camera talent.

"Absolutely f---ing not! lol… (But thank you for asking)," Pankiw said.

In an Instagram post, Pankiw shared a screenshot of an apparent exchange in which her representative asked whether she would consider working on "Harry Potter" and predicted that the project would be a "hard no." Pankiw described declining the opportunity as an easy way for entertainment industry professionals to avoid financially supporting views they opposed.

JK ROWLING CONFRONTS THE BBC FOR PUSHING 'PROPAGANDA' OVER ITS TRANSGENDER SPORTS HEADLINE "It simply is this easy to say ‘no’ to funding transphobia! (Also this was for directing, not acting… obviously lol)," Pankiw said.

Fox News Digital asked Rowling's PR team Friday to respond to Pankiw's accusation that working on the series would amount to "funding transphobia" and whether the directors' public refusals could affect HBO's ability to recruit talent.

"We won't be commenting," Rowling's team said.

JK ROWLING CHALLENGES PAST 'HARRY POTTER' FILMMAKER TO SPECIFY WHICH OF HER BELIEFS ON GENDER ARE OFFENSIVE Pankiw later told Them that her team was checking whether she would be willing to interview or meet about directing an episode during the show's second season.

She said HBO had not extended a formal offer.

"It was not a hard job offer that I turned down, but more the opportunity to meet or interview," Pankiw said.

"But honestly, I didn't investigate further!" Herron, whose credits include "Doctor Who" and the first season of Marvel's "Loki," said in the comments on Pankiw's post that she had been approached about the production twice.

JOHN LITHGOW SAYS MUCH OF JK ROWLING'S TRANS REMARKS HAVE BEEN 'TWISTED AND MISREPRESENTED' "They've asked me twice, and I've had to explain my answer is never going to change from a ‘no,'" Herron said.

HBO previously defended its relationship with Rowling in a 2024 statement provided to Variety.

The network said the author, who serves as an executive producer, had the right to express her views and remained valuable to the adaptation.