Link: https://variety.com/2026/tv/features/lilly-wachowski-jk-rowling-harry-potter-trans-the-matrix-1236858104/

Wachowski is — along with her sister, Lana — the most powerful and influential trans filmmaker around. The 58-year-old had gifted us “The Matrix” series, “Bound” and “Sensse8,” to name a few, and yet, after her critically acclaimed series “Work in Progress,” about a middle-aged lesbian who begins dating a much younger trans man, was canceled by Showtime after two seasons, she spent years pitching “cool and queer trans stories” to Hollywood but couldn’t find a single taker.

So, Wachowski took matters into her own hands, joining forces with Bay Area film programmer Sarah Marie Flores and producer Lawrence Mattis to form Anarchists United Foundation and Anarchists United Studio with the mission of championing stories from marginalized communities. Here’s how it works: The foundation provides grants and fellowships to aspiring filmmakers, mentorships via its Directors Prep & Pitch Lab and office space courtesy of United Spaces of Anarchy, while helping fund the studio. Anarchists United’s first project is “Cassie Workman Is Witchy AF,” a DIY docuseries that features the trans Aussie comic exploring the history of the occultism and magic with her trademark wit. It will debut Sept. 16 on YouTube.

...

What compelled you to form Anarchists United Foundation and Anarchists United Studios?

The story is: I was talking to Sarah Marie Flores, who is our third in the triumvirate of the Anarchists — between me and Lawrence Mattis — and was coming out of this TV show that I’d worked on that I was really proud of, “Work in Progress,” which went for two seasons, got on all these top ten lists and didn’t get the viewing numbers that the studio wanted, so we were summarily canceled and a few months later pulled from streaming. This rankled me. There was something particularly special about working on “Work in Progress” to me: It was the first time I was able to cast as many trans and queer people as I did, and in all of that representation and seeing all these people onscreen who I’d never gotten to see before, I was like, This is something that makes sticking around in the business worthwhile. So, when Showtime turned around and canceled the show even though it was so critically acclaimed and really made for peanuts, it lit a fire under me. I saw all these windows closing and opportunities dwindling for marginalized voices, and I was like, “Somebody needs to do something about this. Somebody needs to make another attempt at the old United Artists model where it would be an artist-run studio.” And Sarah said, “That someone is us.”

You’ve got to hand it to Christopher Nolan for casting Elliot in the first place. That right there is the definition of allyship, and the fact that Christopher Nolan is going out there and talking up Elliot about how awesome he was to work with speaks volumes about him as a human being. But who is following suit in the industry? There are people out there who have the power to cast trans actors, but what the fuck are they doing? Are they so inured with the system that they’re burying their heads in it? Seems like it.

unrelated, but it's astounding that it was simply too much effort to add "photo by" in front of christa holka's name under the photo, so that someone like me, who doesn't know any of these people, but unlike me, and doesn't look up the name, wouldn't think that's a photo of christa holka

So, when Showtime turned around and canceled the show even though it was so critically acclaimed and really made for peanuts, it lit a fire under me.

I mean, sure, but isn't that SOP now for networks and even big studios? It doesn't matter if the show is good or not, has huge fan followings, or has been requested for years. They turn and burn to the next big idea. Maybe this time it was about the topic and actors, but it could be just what they do now to everyone.

They do cancel shit at the drop of a hat but pulling it from streaming seems like an extra fuck you. It can’t cost much to keep a show available for streaming and there are a ton of old, crusty, crappy shows and movies that are still streaming. I know nothing about the industry but that feels like they don’t want to risk having the show find an audience after the fact.

Oh hell yeah! Her works are really hit or miss, but it's awesome that she's working towards getting more marginalized stories on screen, especially with how hard it's been for her to get her own stories made anymore.

Also as a syndicalist I'm always happy to see worker owned ventures be started

Goddamnit. You can't win support when you blanket a group of people saying part of their identity is supporting evil. Like, this is QUITE LITERALLY what human rights activists fight against. Don't use your hurt to villify those who COULD understand you.

My son, an elementary schooler, loves the Harry Potter books. He's finishing the last one. I like the story, i thought it was cute as a kid too. We'd consider ourselves Harry Potter fans.

Guess how much Ive spent on Harry Potter stuff since I was a kid? $0. Guess how much I plan to spend? $0.

This isn't hard people.

Edit: based on the couple of responses I got, Im going to go out on a limb here and suspect there's a lot of people that struggle with splitting here.

My son, an elementary schooler, loves the Harry Potter books. He’s finishing the last one. I like the story, i thought it was cute as a kid too. We’d consider ourselves Harry Potter fans.

Have you re-read those books as an adult?

Here's the excerpt from the interview for context:

There is a big “Harry Potter” series coming out on HBO soon and there are many people opposed to it because of J.K. Rowling’s transphobia.

She is funding trans genocide. J.K. Rowling funds trans genocide, full stop. So, if you support “Harry Potter,” you’re supporting trans genocide. The money that goes into you enjoying these products, a portion of that money goes to J.K. Rowling and that money goes into her funding anti-trans legislation all over the world. In the same way that if you are against Elon Musk, you boycott or don’t buy Tesla; and if you’re against global warming/climate change, you try not to buy as much gas, you try to mitigate your use of these products. It’s simple math. So, your enjoyment of these shows, and continued support of these shows, is supporting my eradication.

You can’t win support when you blanket a group of people saying part of their identity is supporting evil.

A fandom you support is not equivalent to an innate part of your identity that you cannot change.

Maybe don't support a fascist.

... she even says it, "all that money goes into funding anti-trans legislation."

I bought the books two decades ago. Twenty years. She hasn't seen a dime of mine since.

This is a problem particularly unique to the trans community I've discovered. There is no reason to split people like this, two things can be true.

I can like Harry Potter. AND boycott her.
I can like Tesla cars (except the cybertruck), but I boycott purchasing from Tesla.

part of their identity? if Harry Potter is a part of your identity you got bigger issues. Hey I love the Transformers but I don't go around claiming to be an Autobot. IF they made something where Optimus Prime said "freedom is the right of all sentient beings....except Black People" I'd drop that fandom quicker than you can say "roll out". and I've been a fan of those dumb robots for 40+ years.

if the creator of ANYTHING supports things that I don't agree with then guess what? I don't use or consume the product. It's not hard. There's been countless amounts of software i've used in the past that I stopped using because it came out that the lead developer is a piece of shit. oh well, i look for an alternative.

You don't pay for Harry Potter crap, good for you, you're still consuming and being a fan of it. I don't pay for many of the open source software that ended up being bigot central, I stopped using it. it's not hard.

Wow. You really just ignored exactly what I said.

That's not how identity works. What the fuck are you guys just a collective here?

if you’re against global warming/climate change, you try not to buy as much gas, you try to mitigate your use of these products.

I like how she walked back the hard-line black and white division with this last part, when it pertains to something that almost everybody, including herself, use. Nonono, Lilly, you gotta say "ban all gas and non-electric cars" to truly alienate your audience!

The complete lack of nuance in any discussion like this is exactly the point peopleproblems was getting at. I get that she's angry at J.K. Rowling for being a transphobic piece of shit. Hell, I don't even disagree with her saying to stop giving money to her.

But, I can also separate the art from the artist, and do so in a manner that separates Rowling when she wrote the books, and when she decided that TERFdom is part of her identity. I'm not going to immediately boycott anything Daniel Radcliff has done or will do, because I'm sure he wasn't aware of that side of Rowling. Like, how many levels of indirection is good enough?

And no, I'm not going to watch the new series, because it's unnecessary, and yea, I don't want to support a rich transphobic piece of shit.

Have you re-read those books as an adult? I’m honestly asking you this.

That’s because it’s almost impossible to not buy gas, at least in the US. Harry Potter isn’t a necessity in that way.

Yes. They are not good, I won't argue that they are. I like them. I like the story, I like the world.

And she espoused quite a few bigoted things in them. If you ask me, it was an excellent opportunity to discuss with my son how those statements and views are harmful.

But more importantly, I like them because my elementary school child has read all 7 books over the past two years, comprehended them, and was able to discuss them with me.

None of that changes JK Rowling. None of that refunds the $24.99 the hardcover book I bought in 2007.

Nuance. That's exactly what im getting at. The lack of nuance is what's frustrating.

There is absolutely no reason to give bigots more to separate people from supporting eachother.

How about just don't make it "part of your identity"?

Sounds like a great opportunity to teach your child a lesson about immutable values and always standing up for oppressed populations. No matter what. And that includes when it means you might need to stop doing something you previously enjoyed.

Or I guess you could just make it about yourself instead.

I don't go around saying that folks who enjoy HP are necessarily transphobes, but I do take issue with people spreading, popularizing, and financially supporting it. That money is being directly used to attack trans people and even fund lawsuits that silence accurate reporting from advocacy organizations. You're not necessarily my enemy because you like HP, but you are funding someone who means me and people like me harm. There is room for nuance there, but nuance is part of a conversation, not just a word to throw around to shut it down.

Calling on people to make better choices isn't an attempt to drive them away, but an invitation to work together.

I can like Harry Potter. AND boycott her.

If you are boycotting her, then it sounds like you're not what they were talking about.

I assume there are contacts for payments to stream shows, and so they probably felt the income would not justify the cost.

That is my guess on how it works, and certainly not my personal opinion on whether pulling it was right or not.

The Matrix is one of those movies where, no matter what either of the Wachowskis does after, there is literally no arguing that they are master filmmakers. The Matrix is, imho, one of the greatest movies ever made.

And to follow that up with V for Vendetta and Cloud Atlas... Honestly, the Wachowskis are probably my favorite people in Hollywood.

Also, controversial opinion, but Speed Racer was great.

I'm a trans person, and I can understand simply not wanting to take away a children's stories from them. Teach your son about us.If you're having trouble, you can find any number of guides online about talking to children about trans issues (often happens when people transition and they have young siblings, or transitioning parents, etc. Teach him what trans people are. Then teach him about JK Rowling and what she's done. Make sure your son knows specifically why you won't be spending money on it. If he wants to read Harry Potter, make sure he knows the full story of Harry Potter, including its author and her legacy. Hell, arrange for him to meet a trans person, just to demystify the whole thing.

so your response is being a free-loader of HP works, by the way the books was ROWLINGS WAY TO express her bigotry.

Goddamnit. You can't win support when you blanket a group of people saying part of their identity is supporting evil. Like, this is QUITE LITERALLY what human rights activists fight against. Don't use your hurt to villify those who COULD understand you.

I'm not going to be nice to you here. I'm vilified for existing. You feel like you're being vilified because you can't let a children's fantasy franchise go.

Guess how much Ive spent on Harry Potter stuff since I was a kid? $0. Guess how much I plan to spend? $0.

Maybe you got the books twenty years ago, but you are shilling them and sharing them today. Joanne is alive and while she still has clout and makes money from that IP she directly spends gobs of both on anti-trans hate groups and legislation. Put the book away and move on.

Once her corpse is interred in the dirt and her IP no longer funds our fucking eradication, then feel free to bust this victim-blaming whinefest out about your nostalgia and read your children the shitty transphobic wizard childrens books.

This isn't hard people.

God I wish this wasn't hard. Nostalgia is my generation's lead paint istg

He's got trans relatives, he's already met them :).

But yeah... i don't let him consume media in a vacuum. In any form. I know other parents do, but I push that out of my head, there's not much I can do about them.

Speed racer was awesome

. Rowling funds trans genocide, full stop.

This woman is fucking funny. Like basically shipping Dumbledore with a German archenemy (I forgot his fucking name) -- so titillating her fanbase -- he but in the end kills in a duel at the height of WWII. Then afterwards the books starts to spend so much time online, especially Xitter, supposedly interacting with her fanbase up to the point she got enough fascist Murdochian Fox News Limbaugh brainrot and convinced she must have the likes of Farage and neo-Mosley fuckheads go about scouring the Isles in a pogrom of the trans.

You’ve discussed how incredibly difficult it was to get $10 million to finance “The Hunted,” an action film with an all-trans cast

Wait. I just torrented this.

It wasn't an action film. It was some Nordic film.

Shit, must have been the wrong movie :(

Edit: yeah, this isn't the rad film I wanted to see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunt_(2012_film)

You have one of the most renowned replies in Twitter history. Elon Musk tweeted out, “Take the red pill,” then Ivanka Trump enthusiastically wrote, “Taken!” to him, and then you replied, “Fuck both of you.”

Lol that's great

We have this project with Abigail Thorn, an actor and philosopher who had this YouTube channel called PhilosophyTube. She was also amazing in “House of the Dragon,” where she played a pirate. She has a thing called “Billionaire Killers” that we’re excited about. It’s a post-apocalyptic story where all these billionaires are in these bunkers and they’ve got to dig ‘em out of these bunkers.

Omg that sounds amazing

Give him better books.

As a kid, I got halfway through the books and gave up because they kept doing annoying things. Characters became more selfish, Harry not just moving in and paying rent to the Weaselys, Voltamore was a bad villain, the whole SPEW story line, the Weasely mother wanting a house slave, the weird magic creature reserve outside of school grounds, and so so many characters being defined by their birth. That fucking Sorting Hat is creepy as shit.

I no longer buy HP sauce. /s Speed Racer was great!

There are some cooler worlds. Terry Prachett and Discworld, as well as the Wings of Fire series come to mind.

My middle school son has an entire bookshelf he keeps a mess, full of books and none of them are harry potter. Your kid gets older, they may now seek out harry potter because you formed the nastoglia in them now too. My son saw a Wings of Fire shirt in a store and went bananas for it. What if your child asks for a hairy (hehe) potter theme party? you gonna do it?

It could go-
"my mom/dad/parent says I cant watch the show because the author is bad, but I read all the books and loved them" well now you made it taboo too and the child might go behind your back to sneak content on it.

My sister is trans. She used to be the biggest hp fan. She used to make dope wooden magic wands and sell them. She fucking stopped and changed her income stream. She doesnt have the books in her house, and she certainly isnt introducing the series to youth so that it can live on.

Transphobia of JK Rowling as side.

Those books are kinda racists.

Can you look me in the eye and tell me the money obbsesed, long nose, weird and isolated goblins, aren't Jewish stereotypes?

How is Cho Chang a real name?

Slavery is okay so long as they're house elves?

Speed Racer was one of a handful of movies the kid I babysat was allowed to watch so I am so glad it was a good film because we watched it a lot
I had no idea at the time the Wachowskis were involved and my mind was blown when I found out much later

::: spoiler ramble below
I've loved all the works of theirs I've seen and have often watched something just because of them (realistically I've probably been disappointed by something and I recognize my biases.) The Matrix definitely influenced me in my formative years but I don't think I got the right message. It's been a while since I've seen it so I really need to give it a rewatch with a different understanding
:::

I low key wish they'd have franchised Speed Racer instead of the matrix.

Ugh this is going to be a comment I don't really want to do, because in defending my choice, it sounds like I encourage others that don't have the same intent I do to expose their kids to the books.

100% they are. I don't hand him books and tell him to just go read them. Usually we read them together anyway.

There's also about a hundred other examples. No child should have the knowledge that goblins are the racist stereotypes and a way to dehuminize jews. No child should bat an eye at any name.

The books are easy to talk to him about because he enjoys them so much. Guess what he picked up on immediately in the second book? The injustice Dobby experienced. He knew that house elves couldn't actually enjoy being slaves, even IF it was all they knew.

But the whole book series - "pureblood" vs "muggle-born," Hell, even the term "muggle". It is SUCH an easy way to point out how just because the wizards have magic, doesn't make them better people.

He picks up on politics, propaganda, racism, hatred, and hypocrisy incredibly well. He draws the parallels between what happens in the book, with what is happening today, particularly with immigrants and their families disappearing.

It wasn't an action film. It was some Nordic film.

Speaking as a Nordic, I am able to inform you that those two things are in fact not mutually exclusive!

Some Nordic movies ARE action movies 😱

The ironic thing is you can't even take your own advice here and you have basically no skin in the game. People COULD understand you but your tone in all your comments here is combative, dismissive, and condescending.

This isn't hard people 🙄

Harry Potter sauce? Ew

every dollar and every moment you spend towards the harry potter fandom gives it and by extension transphobia space in our cultural consciousness and harms trans people directly

you're a horrible parent, i hope CPS takes your child

Look, you are one person, and I understand the anger and fear behind your statement.

But I do hope you can see the harm you are doing to the rest of the trans community by making such statements like that.

Statements like that are what the social homeostasis crowd points to and says "see? They're dangerous!"