British actress Keira Knightley has shared that she was unaware of the Harry Potter boycott controversy before signing on to voice Professor Umbridge in the upcoming Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions. The acclaimed star, currently promoting her Netflix thriller The Woman in Cabin 10, revealed in an interview with Deadline that she “was not aware” of the ongoing debate surrounding the franchise and its creator J.K. Rowling.
When asked about the backlash, Knightley responded, “I wasn’t aware of that, no. I’m very sorry. I think we’re living in a time where everyone has to learn to coexist, even with differing opinions. Hopefully, we can all find mutual respect.”
Keira will lend her voice to the character Professor Dolores Umbridge, joining a star-studded cast featuring Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort, Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape, and Michelle Gomez as Professor McGonagall. The first audiobook, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, will release on November 4 exclusively on Audible.
The controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling stems from her remarks on gender identity and the transgender community, which have drawn criticism from many fans and celebrities, including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe. Recently, Emma reignited the discussion during a podcast with Jay Shetty, stating that while she disagrees with Rowling’s stance, she still values her experiences working on the Harry Potter films. Rowling, however, countered by accusing Watson of speaking from privilege and lacking understanding of the topic.
Despite the ongoing debates, the excitement for the new Harry Potter audiobook series remains high among fans eager to experience the beloved stories in a new, cinematic audio format.
