Nicola Coughlan reignites feud with JK Rowling as she vows to boycott new Harry Potter reboot

Nicola Coughlan reignited her feud with JK Rowling while discussing the upcoming Harry Potter reboot. The Irish actress, 39, first clashed with the author, 61, in 2025 when she took umbrage at Rowling celebrating the Supreme Court gender ruling, which declared the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.At the time, Rowling responded by claiming she had no clue who Nicola, or Pedro Pascal - who had also criticised her - were. Now Coughlan has addressed the author's remarks, scoffing: 'Me, I could believe. But Pedro Pascal? You know who Pedro Pascal is, girl. Like, please.' Coughlan went on to double down on her plans to boycott the new HBO series based on JK's books. While she said she loved the series in childhood, she remarked: 'I will not be watching the new Harry Potter show and I would never be in it.' Nicola Coughlan reignited her feud with JK Rowling while discussing the upcoming Harry Potter reboot and the author's reaction to the Supreme Court gender ruling last year Last year, Coughlan took aim at Rowling when she celebrated the Supreme Court gender ruling by posting a snap smoking a cigar and drinking a cocktailCoughlan added to The Observer: 'Look, I know people that are involved in those shows, and they're nice people and whatever, but it's not for me.'Last year, Coughlan took aim at Rowling when she celebrated the Supreme Court gender ruling by posting a snap smoking a cigar and drinking a cocktail, that she captioned: 'I love it when a plan comes together.' In response, Coughlan tweeted: 'This is a new low for JK Rowling. Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole'.Coughlan had previously said she was 'completely horrified' by the ruling, branding it 'stomach-churning'.Marvel star Pascal, 51, also spoke out against Rowling, commenting on a video that urged people to boycott Harry Potter products. The actor, whose younger sibling, Lux, came out as a transgender woman in 2021, is a vocal ally of the transgender community. He penned: 'Awful disgusting S*** is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behaviour.' When actor James Dreyfus tweeted that Coughlan and Pascal had targeted Rowling, the author simply replied: 'I can't be bothered to Google. Who are they?' Since it was announced in 2023, the Harry Potter series has sparked controversy from anti-Rowling activists, with Nicholas Hoult backing out of the project this year.Harry Potter author Rowling is a fierce defender of women's rights but has been labelled transphobic by some campaigners.Many of the actors taking up roles in the new series have faced the wrath of her critics, who believe any remakes of her work should be boycotted. Rowling serves as an executive producer on HBO's show.The TV show comes a decade and a half after the original films based on Rowling's best-selling books came to an end, and it is reported to be a more faithful adaptation than the original cinematic incarnations. Following Rowling's comments last year, Coughlan tweeted: 'This is a new low for JK Rowling', while Pedro Pascal penned: 'Awful disgusting S*** is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behaviour' When actor James Dreyfus tweeted that Coughlan and Pascal had targeted Rowling, the author simply replied: 'I can't be bothered to Google. Who are they?' The Harry Potter series has sparked controversy from anti-Rowling activists (L-R Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout as the new Hermione, Harry and Ron) However, while HBO and many Harry Potter fans are excited for the upcoming remake, the show has been plagued with controversy from the get-go.Dubbed the 'streaming event of the decade', many former Potterheads have vowed to boycott the programme because of the ongoing controversy surrounding Rowling's comments about transgender people.However, with big stars on board, bosses are clearly hoping the love for the magic will overcome the controversy.With a month until the show is scheduled for release on Christmas Day, several scandals have already hit the show.In May, it was revealed that the actor supposed to be playing Ginny Weasley had to drop out of the project.There were also reports of thefts in the prop room, and the series doesn't even have the backing of the original Harry Potter director Chris Columbus.In an extreme turn of events, Paapa Essiedu has said he has even faced death threats since being cast as Severus Snape in the new TV series.Opening up about the racist abuse he has had to endure, he explained how the trolls believe a black man should not play a fictional wizard and have told him: 'Quit or I'll murder you.' The role was previously taken on by Alan Rickman in the films.The upcoming show has also been hit with 'alarming' accusations of bullying and claims two 12-year-old extras were spotted fighting on set.According to reports in March, bosses at Warner Brothers were forced to step in and issue warnings to both adults and children, as well as the threats of being booted from the show no matter how famous they may be.A source said: 'There are a lot of youngsters on set at any one time, and the reality is that not everyone is going to get on. It's an alarming problem and bosses want to get rid of any bad eggs among the cast and crew.'Bosses have issued warnings about behaviour. The bullying accusations have involved adults and children. It has been made clear that anyone reported for bullying will be immediately axed, no matter how famous they may be.'HBO's Harry Potter series is set to premiere on Christmas Day on HBO Max.