Harry Potter TV series star drops out of beloved role ahead of second season filming

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I’m still eagerly awaiting the first episode of the new Harry Potter TV show, but it’s amazing to hear that they’re already planning the second season! Apparently, they’re moving forward with adapting ‘The Chamber of Secrets,’ which is the second book by JK Rowling. It’s exciting to think how quickly this is all happening!

One of the main characters will be played by a new actor. Gracie Cochrane, who played the young Ginny Weasley, has left the show after appearing in one season.

Deadline confirmed the news as production on season one wraps. Gracie Cochrane and her family released a statement explaining that, due to unexpected circumstances, she has decided to leave her role as Ginny Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter series after the first season.

Gracie has loved being a part of the Harry Potter films and is incredibly thankful for the amazing experience created by Lucy Bevan and the whole production crew. She’s now looking forward to what the future brings.

HBO has publicly supported Gracie Cochrane’s and her family’s choice to not participate in future seasons of the Harry Potter series. They also expressed gratitude for her contributions to the first season and wished them well.

Fans of the Harry Potter series will remember that Ginny Weasley is a key character in The Chamber of Secrets.

In August 2025, the actors portraying the Weasley family – Alastair Stout as Ron, Cochrane as Ginny, Tristan Harland as Fred, Gabriel Harland as George, and Ruari Spooner as Percy – were first shown in a released image.

The first season of the Harry Potter TV series is set to arrive on HBO Max this Christmas.

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J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has received criticism from some people because of her opinions regarding the rights of transgender people.

I remember when she released that long statement in 2020 explaining her views on sex and gender. It really sparked a lot of debate, and honestly, groups like Stonewall strongly disagreed with her points and publicly challenged them. It was a pretty controversial moment.

J.K. Rowling has expressed controversial opinions on social media, most recently in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter). In that post, she stated that the concept of transgender children doesn’t exist and argued against the idea that someone’s gender identity at birth doesn’t match their body.

In May 2025, J.K. Rowling created the JK Rowling Women’s Fund to provide financial support for legal battles aimed at protecting women’s rights as defined by biological sex.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, along with other actors from the Harry Potter films, have publicly disagreed with J.K. Rowling’s views and expressed support for the transgender community.

Several actors, such as Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Jim Broadbent, have come to the author’s defense amidst recent criticism.

The Harry Potter series will be available to stream on HBO in the United States and HBO Max internationally starting December 25, 2026. In the UK, you can subscribe to HBO Max for as little as £5.99 per month.

Want to know what to watch? Add Harry Potter to your watchlist on the TopMob app! Download it now for daily TV suggestions, interesting features, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the international production company Fremantle. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-05-19 12:36