Beloved Harry Potter star takes BRUTAL swipe at TV reboot as JK Rowling reignites feud with 'ignorant' Emma Watson and fans blast 'woke' casting twist
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Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis has issued a brutal swipe at the TV reboot of the fantasy series that's being made by streaming giant HBO.
The actor, 36, is best know for his role as Neville Longbottom in the films - with his Gryffindor character last seen slaying the final horcrux, Nagini.
The character is going to be brought back for more action, this time played by young Yorkshire actor, Rory Wilmot, as part of the ten-year-long TV adaptation of JK Rowling's children's novels about boy wizard Harry.
And while Matthew has gone on to appear in various new roles, including blockbuster hit Me Before You and period drama All Creatures Great and Small, he revealed he was going to struggle to let go of his time as Neville, and see his character recast.
He also hit out that he 'hadn't really thought about the series', despite it making global headlines on its announcement in 2023, with cast announcements confirmed earlier this year.
Matthew told The Independent: 'I haven’t really thought about the series as a whole at all, really, I’ll probably have to pay my therapist for a double session when I finally do think about it.'
Matthew Lewis admitted he was going to struggle to let go of his time as Neville, and see his character re-acted
He played Neville Longbottom in the original film franchise and went on to capture fans' hearts
While Matthew hasn't been in touch with his successor, he admitted he is pleased to see the fictional character will continue to be a Yorkshire lad.
He continued: 'I feel quite humbled in that Neville is now canon Yorkshire. Whether that’s a tribute to me or not, I don’t know, I’m gonna say that it is.
'But the last thing [the new cast] needs is for has-beens wading in, just let them cook.’
Asked whether he would return to the franchise and work with JK Rowling again, Matthew concluded that it would 'depend what the project is'.
Taking a nod at the controversy surrounding the author, who has been outspoken in her views on the transgender community, Matthew added that he would 'have to have conversations' and make sure he was 'totally comfortable squaring it with his own beliefs' before agreeing to move forward.
It comes after Harry Potter fans were left outraged after it was revealed that HBO are auditioning females to play Lord Voldemort in the upcoming rebrand.
The highly-anticipated series, which is set to hit the streaming service in 2027, has already started filming.
Fans already know that Dominic McLaughlin, 11, will play protagonist Harry, Alastair Stout will be Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton, 11, has taken on the role of Hermione Granger.
The TV reboot is already in production and is set to launch careers of a new generation of child stars
JK Rowling recently clashed with Emma Watson over transgenderism and women's rights
The likes of John Lithgow, 79, will play Albus Dumbledore, while Janet McTeer, 64, will be Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu, 35, as Severus Snape and Nick Frost, 53, as Hagrid.
Many are desperate to know who has landed the character as Lord Voldemort - who was originally played by Ralph Fiennes, 62, in the franchise between 2005 and 2011.
According to DanielRPK, HBO are looking at both male and female stars to potentially star in the TV series as the iconic character.
Their official X account wrote: 'They’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the Harry Potter series!'
Meanwhile, JK Rowling reignited her feud with Hermione actress Emma Watson, accusing her of being 'ignorant of how ignorant she is'.
The author said the actress's public criticism of her gender critical stance had 'poured more petrol on the flames' of the abuse she had suffered.
She also dismissed Ms Watson's recent claim that she 'still treasures' her by accusing the 35-year-old of 'cosying up' to a movement that 'regularly calls for a friend's assassination'.
Rowling has previously vowed to 'never forgive' Emma or her Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint for having 'cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'.
In a statement, the writer said the trio had 'every right to embrace gender identity ideology' but attacked them for using their links to Harry Potter to serve as 'de facto spokespeople' for the 'world I created'.
Rowling then focused her fire on Watson by suggesting her views on trans rights were due to her lack of experience of 'real life'.
Speaking to On Purpose with Jay Shetty, actress Emma said her support for trans rights did not mean she had turned against the woman who shaped her life.
She revealed: 'I really don't believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can't and don't treasure Jo and the person that I, that I had personal experiences with.'
But the author hit back: 'Emma and Dan in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right - nay, obligation - to critique me and my views in public.
'Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.'
