Ben Barnes Addresses Longtime Harry Potter Fancast Amid J.Ok. Rowling Controversy

A longtime Harry Potter fancast is addressed by Shadow and Bone star Ben Barnes. The actor has expertise bringing beloved fantasy books to life between enjoying Prince Caspian in two The Chronicles of Narnia motion pictures and because the Darkling in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone.

The primary season 1 casting of HBO’s Harry Potter present is full, however there continues to be hypothesis about casting for the seasons that can adapt later books within the sequence. For years, Barnes has been a preferred fancast to play Sirius Black, and it’s nonetheless a chance for the HBO sequence.

Whereas talking with Collider on the Tampa Bay Comedian Conference, Barnes defined that he was initially shocked by being related to a personality he had by no means performed. Nevertheless, he grew to understand the unusual phenomenon over time:

I discovered it very bizarre for lots of years, as a result of I did not actually perceive what was occurring. Individuals would type of ask me to signal issues or — and I used to be like, “You already know what? I used to be in Narnia.”

So for lots of years, I discovered it complicated. After which I went via a part of being like, “Wait, I’ve been — folks have type of imagined me on this type of outdated universe factor for like, 15 plus, 20 years now.” And it is that type of, like, it’s the dedication to it, which I actually type of worth. And I believe is actually, actually beautiful.

As for the way Barnes now feels about enjoying Sirius someday, he admits that it’s extra sophisticated due to basic variations between “the creator’s views on issues and the best way I see the world.” Take a look at his extra feedback beneath:

Like, you understand, most individuals on the planet discovered these tales and people motion pictures after they got here out, one thing for a bit, you understand, actually joyful. And clearly, in the previous few years, I discovered it far more — a tougher factor to speak about, as a result of there’s clearly, like, a conflict between a few of the creator’s views on issues and the best way I see the world.

So I believe that has made it, sadly, type of tainted this type of stunning mythology of how I noticed these tales. However it would not change the truth that it’s a very — such a cool character, and, you understand, to be related to a personality like that from different individuals who do like it, it is like — it’s like a very stunning factor, and it makes me completely happy.

What This Means For Harry Potter

Barnes doesn’t state J.Ok. Rowling’s identify in his feedback, however is clearly alluding to the numerous controversy surrounding the franchise attributable to her statements about transgender people. For Barnes and for a lot of followers of the Harry Potter books and flicks, this has “tainted” the tales.

Given Barnes’ disagreement with Rowling’s views, this makes it much less probably that he would now conform to play Sirius. HBO government Casey Bloys has beforehand emphasised that J.Ok. Rowling’s controversial views won’t affect the present, but it surely has already been a major a part of the discourse surrounding the sequence amid casting information and with manufacturing now underway.

Manufacturing on Harry Potter season 1 started on July 14.

However, Barnes nonetheless has a deep fondness for Sirius. He acknowledges how distinctive it’s to be intertwined with the character’s legacy regardless of by no means portraying him, and that this requires a stage of dedication that speaks volumes concerning the devoted ardour of the Harry Potter fandom.

Barnes’ emotions about Harry Potter and Rowling’s views usually are not unusual, but they’re made extra sophisticated after years of being a preferred fancast. His bodily look and former performing expertise would positively be a fantastic match for Sirius and be distinct from Gary Oldman’s efficiency within the Harry Potter motion pictures.

The perfect case could also be for Barnes to proceed being a fancast whereas he continues to impress in different tasks, with one of the latest being Stephen King’s The Institute on MGM+. He can proceed to be a Harry Potter fan with out the advanced baggage of starring in HBO’s upcoming adaptation.

Supply: Collider