Nick Frost receives backlash for accepting role in Harry Potter series

Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed some of the cast for the upcoming Harry Potter series, which will be streaming on Max.

In 2023, a Harry Potter TV was announced, and it is being planned to run for 10 years; as the show progresses through the adaptation of all seven books written by J.K Rowling. This show will also be executively produced by J.K. Rowling.

There were open casting calls posted in September 2024 for child actors to play Harry, Hermione and Ron, although these actors are yet to be revealed.

The confirmed cast joining the Wizarding World so far includes:

John Lithgow as Dumbledore
Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
Nick Frost as Hagrid
Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell

Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Attack the Block), is one of the actors who is currently receiving online backlash for accepting this role as Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter series.

On Instagram, Frost posted an image of himself holding the first Harry Potter book in the series titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Nick Frost wrote in the caption:

You’re a wizard, Harry!!!
Thank you for trusting me with such a loyal,
gentle and courageous half-giant like Rubeus
Hagrid. Robbie, I promise I won’t let you
down.

After a barage of negative comments flooded in, Nick Frost disabled comments on his post, however this only redirected people to comment on other posts on his page.

The comments are from people outraged with the actor for being associated with J.K. Rowling’s projects.

Ever since 2018, there has been allegations of Rowling being Anti-trans; from making various comments about the transgender community.

Here are some of the comments made on Frost’s account:

Multiple comments harrassing Nick Frost on his instagram page regarding Harry Potter — Nick Frosts Instagram page @friedgold

One Instagram user writes: ‘You’re a corward for turning off comments on your HP post. If you’re gonna proudly stand with a TERF, then at least face the backlash head on.’

‘Lost all my respect for you for deciding to work for Rowling and her mouldy estate of hatred.’

Another person writes on Nick Frost’s Instagram: ‘I’m very sad that you chose to work for someone like Rowling that takes so much effort in making innocent peoples’ lifes miserable. You always were an artist I highly admired. Please think again if you want to get involved with that woman, you might lose a lot of fans with that decision.’

There has also been Harry Potter fans dismayed online at the casting for Severus Snape; now being portrayed by Paapa Essiedu (The Lazurus Project, Gangs of London). Essiedu is facing different backlash due to racial discrimination surrounding the character’s appearance from book to live-action. The late actor Alan Rickman previously portrayed Severus Snape in the films.