David Tennant has made it clear he doesn’t expect to be invited to participate in the new Harry Potter TV series for one key reason.
The Doctor Who star played Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr in the fourth Harry Potter movie, and was asked during a Q&A at Planet ComicCon if he would be interested in returning to the franchise when it’s rebooted by HBO.
“I mean, they’re great stories,” he responded, but said that his “contribution has probably been made” to the Wizarding World.
He then playfully added: “I’m told there’s an executive producer who doesn’t love me on that show.”
While he didn’t mention her by name, it’s safe to assume that David was referring to Harry Potter writer JK Rowling, who will executive produce the new show, which will devote one season to each of her books.
David has become an outspoken advocate for transgender and gender non-conforming people in recent years, while the author has become divisive figure due to her own comments on these communities, including repeated instances of misgendering trans public figures.
Last year, Rowling made a dig of her own at the Rivals actor on X, commenting that her “thoughts and prayers are with David Tennant at this very difficult time” after Kemi Badenoch was appointed leader of the Conservative party.
He had previously made headlines when accepting an award for allyship at the British LGBT Awards, saying in his speech that he wished Badenoch would “shut up” on the subject of trans issues.
Badenoch has previously been criticised for own stance on issues relating to the trans community, and in 2021, was heard misgendering trans women in a leaked audio recording.