Following news that a lead actress from the upcoming Harry Potter series would be ditching the HBO show, sparking a recast for season two, people are once again talking about the alleged on-set bullying. Last year, Gracie Cochrane was cast as Ginny Weasley in HBO‘s Harry Potter series. Though the show is pegged for eight seasons, covering the entirety of the books, the role is being recast for season two. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gracie Cochrane (@graciebellecochrane) “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Gracie has made the challenging decision to step away from her role as Ginny Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter series after season one,” Gracie and her family said in a statement. “Her time as part of the Harry Potter world has been truly wonderful, and she is deeply grateful to [casting director] Lucy Bevan and the entire production team for creating such an unforgettable experience. Gracie is very excited about the opportunities her future holds.” The exact reason behind her sudden leaving is not yet known, but HBO wished the actress the best in her future endeavours. “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 one of the show. We wish Gracie and her family the best,” the streaming platform said in an adjoining statement. Before Ginny left, there was BTS drama on the Harry Potter set Back in March, The Sun published a piece about alleged bullying on the new Harry Potter set. Inside, sources described a pattern of behaviour on set from some of the show’s younger cast members. One 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. Filming is going to last eight years and bosses are adamant that any inappropriate behaviour must be nipped in the bud.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gracie Cochrane (@graciebellecochrane) According to the report, HBO implemented anti-bullying policies in response, also asking crew members to report potential misconduct. Reports could be anonymous. “The reports of bullying have been treated incredibly seriously,” the source added. “Bosses have advised everyone who they should contact if they are victimised.” Again, though we don’t know why Ginny’s actress is leaving the Harry Potter series, people are once again talking about the bullying accusations in light of the news. One person rightly pointed out: “The extras were the ones practising bullying on set, not the main actors. The actress barely showed up on set, since the number of scenes she filmed was minimal and none of them even took place in Hogwarts. “It’s important to emphasise that we’re talking about a child; bullying is serious and not a joke. This is just a supposition made based on her departure. However, the reason became clear, as it was personal. HBO issued a statement supporting the actress and her parents.” HBO have been approached for comment. For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: Gracie Cochrane/Instagram and Warner Bros Post navigation Next story
