Ally Pankiw, who directs episodes of Black Mirror, says she turned down an opportunity to work on HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series. In posts shared on social media, she presents a text exchange in which she responds emphatically to an inquiry about joining the project, using language reported as “hard no” or “absolutely f***ing not.”
The outlets agree that Pankiw’s refusal is tied to concerns about transphobia, specifically relating to J.K. Rowling’s public views. Deadline and Hollywood Reporter describe similar framing in posts that encourage others to “say no to funding transphobia.” PinkNews highlights the exchange as an example of how readily such offers can be declined. Kotaku adds that another director, Kate Herron, also says she rejected the series, though the reporting centers on shared, social-media-based statements rather than contract details.
