HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series has been marred in controversy since its inception.
The show has faced backlash and calls for boycotts since anti-trans Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is acting as executive producer. Plus, conservative fans were outraged that Black actor Paapa Essiedu was cast as Severus Snape, and star John Lithgow has found himself in hot water for voicing support for the trans community while also saying that much of Rowling’s views have "been twisted and misrepresented."
Now, the Harry Potter series is facing a new blow as Gracie Cochrane, the actress playing Ron Weasley’s younger sister Ginny Weasley, has abruptly announced she is exiting after filming the first season.
HBO will recast the part ahead of season 2, which will significantly expand Ginny Weasley's role as it adapts the second book in the series, The Chamber of Secrets.
The decision has raised eyebrows, given the show's planned seven-season run and the fact that the first season has yet to air.
Who is Gracie Cochrane?
The actors playing the Weasley siblings in the 'Harry Potter' series.
HBOPrior to being cast as Ginny Weasley, Cochrane was a relative unknown, only having starred in an uncredited role in the choir in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and an unnamed character in the Apple TV+ period drama Blitz with Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson.
Before making the transition to the big screen, Cochrane was a stage actress, starring as Jemima Potts in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and as Young Éponine in Les Misérables.
Cochrane was cast in the Harry Potter series last year alongside Alistair Stout as Harry Potter’s best friend Ron Weasley, twins Tristan and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George Weasley, and Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley.
Why did Gracie Cochrane leave the Harry Potter series?
In a joint statement with her family, Cochrane announced on May 18 that “due to unforeseen circumstances,” she was exiting the show after the upcoming first season, set to air starting in December.
"Her time as part of the Harry Potter world has been truly wonderful, and she is deeply grateful to Lucy Bevan and the entire production team for creating such an unforgettable experience. Gracie is very excited about the opportunities her future holds," the statement read, per Variety.
What are people saying about the Harry Potter series?
It may be unclear exactly why Cochrane and her family decided she should quit the series, but HBO released a statement showing support for the young actress.
“We support Gracie Cochrane and her family’s decision not to return for the next season of HBO’s Harry Potter series, and we are grateful for her work on season 1 of the show. We wish Gracie and her family the best,” the network said.
Fan discourse over the decision seems split, with some saying it was a smart move to pull out, given the controversy surrounding the show and the likely grueling workload that will only increase as the series goes along and Ginny Weasley becomes a larger part of the plot.
The conservative part of the fanbase, on the other hand, is making jokes on social media about the role now being filled with a diverse casting choice, with names like Zendaya, Bella Ramsey, and Pedro Pascal being thrown out.
Harry Potter premieres on HBO and HBO Max on December 25, 2026.
