HBOs Harry Potter fans lose their minds over | TV Shows

The first ever flicks from the set of the upcoming Harry Potter TV series on HBO Max feature the cast arriving at the London Zoo to shoot the memorable Dudley Dursley birthday scene from the very first book and film, and fans are losing their minds over one key detail.

After the long wait following the 2023 announcement of the show, the cast was revealed back in May. Now, filming has finally kicked off as fans rave over the accuracy of the time period.

The highly anticipated series, which is based on J.K. Rowling’s novel series of the same name, was confirmed in April this year amid Rowling’s transphobic comments which sparked controversy around the show.

The just-released snaps show the cast and crew recording scenes from just before Harry sneaks out of his cousin Dudley’s party at the zoo, which is a scene featured in the 2001 movie Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone.

Fans couldn’t help but rave over the accuracy of the outfits and hairstyles as they praise HBO for maintaining the ’90s vibe.’

But just days prior, when a photo of McLaughlin in his Potter costume was released, fans were fuming as they begged others not to watch the series due to Rowling’s controversy.

One wrote on BlueSky: “I feel bad for the little guy, being part of the bigot J.K. Rowling‘s new production she created to separate herself from the previous cast who was in favor of human rights. He has no idea who she really is or the harm she creates. I hope he doesn’t get the brunt of her horrid, abusive actions.”

“Nobody watch this thing. Rowling has already confirmed all the money she makes from this she’s using to fight trans rights,” another urged.

A third critic shared: “Even if the author wasn’t a hateful lunatic, there is absolutely no need to retell the same story again after so little time.”

“No one should watch this crap or keep throwing money at that unhinged, transphobic J.K. Rowling. She should go back to where she belongs – the gutter!” yet another critic slammed.

Rowling has been vocal in the media and online about her anti-trans outlook – views that she has been promoting since as early as 2018.

Most recently, she unleashed a tirade on Twitter, saying: “When you tell a woman she must pretend a man is a woman, you’re asserting the right to control her speech and perception of reality, while also trivialising and devaluing her female-specific experience. You’re asking her to agree that ‘woman’ is a concept men can embody at will.”

Just weeks prior, she even suggested that women’s bathrooms should be policed to keep out trans folks.

When asked how she plans on going about this, she said: “Quite easily, really. Decent men will stay out, as they always have, so we can assume all who don’t are a threat, given their disregard for women’s and girls’ safety, privacy and dignity. Photographing, reporting and disseminating such men’s images online will be a piece of cake.”