Books

Yet more celebs join Harry Potter audiobook series despite backlash – here’s the full cast so far

Oct 23
Written by Marcus Wratten

(L-R) Bill Nighy, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, and Anna Maxwell Martin will star in Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions. (Getty)

Derry Girls actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Motherland star Anna Maxwell Martin and Joy actor Bill Nighy are the latest celebrities to sign up for roles in the controversial Harry Potter audiobook series, Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions.

Jackson will voice the role of Professor Trelawney, Martin will play journalist Rita Skeeter, and Nighy, who played Rufus Scrimgeour in the Harry Potter movies, will voice Professor Slughorn in the Audible series.

Other stars announced yesterday (22 October) include David Holmes – who was a stunt double in the films – playing Stan Shunpike, Slow Horses star Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as Sirius Black, The Office star Mackenzie Crook as Kreacher, comedian Stephen Mangan as Nearly Headless Nick, and EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman as Madam Hooch.

The latest round of casting news has once again sparked backlash on social media, with users sharing their disappointment at actors signing up for a project linked to JK Rowling’s wizarding world.

Since 2020, Rowling has regularly shared her ‘gender-critical’ views on the transgender community on social media. Earlier this year, she confirmed that she had donated money to For Women Scotland, the group which was involved in a legal battle with the Scottish government over the legal definitions of “woman” and “sex”.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling in front of trans Pride flag colours — JK Rowling’s views on transgender people are widely known. (Getty)

In April, the Supreme Court ruled that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, the legal definition of a woman excludes trans women, a ruling which Rowling celebrated as “TERF VE Day”.

JK Rowling has also made her intention to fund other such cases clear. Some members of the LGBTQ+ community therefore believe that by working on projects that will bring the author profit, actors are effectively bolstering Rowling’s support of ‘gender-critical’ legal battles.

“There’s no way the people signing up for this don’t know how horrible JK Rowling is. At this point, they just don’t care and are spineless as hell,” wrote one social media user after the latest cast revelation.

“Does no one have any f**king morals left now?” a second questioned, while a third dubbed the cast news as “incredibly disappointing”.

I love Derry Girls so much. this is so incredibly disappointing. https://t.co/vcjENSVChh
— modern clare devlin (@peonysummers) October 22, 2025

Dude can they FUXKING STOP XNDNCJDDBDK First Anna Maxwell Martin and Stephen Mangan and NOW THIS STOP CONVERTING ICONS TO THIS BULLSHIT https://t.co/R1kQ7ULd0b
— remmy (cap's version) 🇮🇪 (@remmy_swag) October 22, 2025

Others pointed out that Jackson’s Derry Girls co-star Nicola Coughlan has made her own thoughts on upcoming Harry Potter projects very clear. Back in April, following the Supreme Court ruling, Coughlan wrote on Instagram: “Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10ft pole”.

Last week, The Woman in Cabin 10 star Keira Knightley was grilled by a journalist on whether she knew about the “boycott” of Harry Potter content before she signed up to play Dolores Umbridge in the audiobook series.

She was criticised for her response, during which she laughed. “I was not aware of that, no. I’m very sorry,” she said.

Keira Knightley on the left, JK Rowling on the right, at separate red carpet events. — Keira Knightley previously said she was ‘not aware’ of a Harry Potter boycott over JK Rowling’s ‘gender-critical’ views. (Getty)

“You know, I think we’re all living in a period of time right now where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we? And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect.”

In August, Doctor Who star Michelle Gomez issued a response to backlash after she was cast as Professor McGonagall in the series.

“I hear you, and I understand why this is painful for many. I want to be clear that I stand with trans people, and I support trans rights – fully and without hesitation,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I now understand more clearly how deeply complicated and hurtful this association can feel, and I take that seriously. Being an ally means listening even when it’s uncomfortable and taking accountability where it’s needed. I’m committed to doing both.”

The full Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions cast

The full cast of the Audible series Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions includes Hollywood heavyweights Keira Knightley, Hugh Lawrie, Bill Knighey and Kit Harrington. Here’s the full cast so far.