Canadian filmmaker Ally Pankiw announced on Thursday that she declined an offer to direct an upcoming television series based on the “Harry Potter” franchise, citing her opposition to supporting transphobia. Pankiw shared a screenshot of a text conversation on Instagram where she adamantly rejected the opportunity to work on the HBO series.

In her post, Pankiw expressed her firm stance against funding transphobia and clarified that her decision pertained to directing rather than acting. The 39-year-old director, known for her work on “Black Mirror” and “Feel Good,” as well as the film “I Used to be Funny,” emphasized the simplicity of refusing to support ideologies she opposes.

The new “Harry Potter” series, titled “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max on December 25, 2026. Based on J.K. Rowling’s popular book series, the show will stream on Crave in Canada. Rowling’s controversial views on transgender issues have sparked backlash, with the author facing criticism for her statements on sex and gender identity.

Another director, Kate Herron, also shared her experience of turning down an offer to work on the “Harry Potter” series, expressing solidarity with Pankiw’s decision. Herron, known for her work on “Loki” and other prominent series, commended Pankiw and reiterated her own unwavering refusal to be involved in the project.

While Pankiw praised Herron for standing firm against working on the series, inquiries to Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of HBO, regarding the impact of such refusals on the show’s production remain unanswered. Representatives for Pankiw have yet to provide additional insight into the context of the text exchange.