‘Harry Potter’s John Lithgow Upset Non-Binary Co-star with Dumbledore Casting

by

The casting of John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter TV series continues to spark debate. Aud Mason-Hyde, who identifies as non-binary and is a co-star in the series, recently expressed mild disappointment about Lithgow’s involvement in an interview with OUT magazine. This reaction stems from the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling, who has faced criticism for her views on transgender rights over the past seven years.

John is a remarkably gifted actor and a genuinely kind person to work with, which was my experience with him. He always made me feel accepted and never questioned my identity as a transgender person. He was consistently supportive and encouraging as a co-star, so it’s a little painful to hear about his recent choices. However, those choices came after we finished and premiered the film, and they can’t diminish the positive experience and time we shared together.

Mason-Hyde continued to express their concern about John Lithgow’s role, describing it as odd and unsettling. However, they questioned whether actors should have to give in to public pressure, even when it’s based on what people believe is right or wrong. Lithgow’s success in popular projects like Dexter, Shrek, and The Crown doesn’t negate his need to earn a living, and everyone deserves the right to work and support themselves.

“Remarkable” Creative Team at HBO Reeled in John Lithgow

John Lithgow, a six-time Emmy winner, recently spoke about the controversy surrounding his casting as Dumbledore while at the Rotterdam Film Festival. According to Variety, he explained that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series – which became eight hugely successful films earning $7.7 billion worldwide between 2001 and 2011 – has strong themes of good versus evil and kindness versus cruelty. He also expressed excitement about working with a team of incredibly talented people on this new project.

I haven’t met J.K. Rowling, and she isn’t involved in this project. However, the people working on it are fantastic. It’s disappointing to me that some people object to my participation, especially considering the themes of the Harry Potter books. There’s absolutely no evidence of transphobia within the established story; in fact, she’s created a story about compassion and inclusivity. Playing Dumbledore is a wonderful opportunity, so it was a difficult choice to consider stepping down. I was uncomfortable with the pressure to quit, but ultimately, I decided to stay on the project.

Francesca Gardiner, an executive producer on shows like Killing Eve and His Dark Materials, is the showrunner for this project, set to be released in 2027. Mark Mylod, who directed episodes of Succession, directed several episodes of this new series as well.

Read More

2026-02-09 17:50