John Lithgow recently joined the cast of the HBO series as Albus Dumbledore, but the award-winning actor revealed he nearly left the show before filming began.
The upcoming Harry Potter TV series has faced some criticism. Some fans feel it’s too soon after the movies for a new adaptation, while others are boycotting due to controversial statements made by J.K. Rowling. In a recent interview with The New York Times, actor John Lithgow revealed he nearly left the project because of the backlash surrounding Rowling.
John Lithgow Was Encouraged to Exit Harry Potter
Aud Mason-Hyde, who uses non-binary pronouns, expressed disappointment with John Lithgow’s involvement in the Harry Potter franchise, telling Out magazine that the decision felt “disconcerting” and “vaguely hurtful.”
Lithgow revealed he almost left the show, but realized the role would be something people always asked him about. He was the first actor confirmed for the new Harry Potter series and the first American to play the character. Before him, Sir Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, and Jude Law (in the Fantastic Beasts prequels) had all played the role.
This isn’t the first instance of disagreement regarding the actress and her perspectives on transgender issues. Earlier this year at the Rotterdam Film Festival, John Lithgow expressed that he found her views both ironic and difficult to understand.
John Lithgow emphasized how seriously he takes the topic, praising the author’s creation of a powerful and influential series for young readers. He described it as a story fundamentally about the conflict between good and evil, and kindness and cruelty.
The actor shared that J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, isn’t actually involved in this particular production, despite her creation of the original story. He clarified that he’s never met her, but praised the current team working on the project as being exceptional.
The actor, known for their role in The Crown, also commended the show’s creative team, including showrunner and writer Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod. They expressed frustration with criticism of their involvement, explaining that the source material, Harry Potter, doesn’t demonstrate any prejudice against transgender people. Instead, the character they portray embodies compassion and inclusivity, making it a wonderful role to play.
Honestly, it was a really tough call. I felt incredibly uneasy and upset that so many people were pushing me to quit. But ultimately, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it – I decided to stick with the job.
John Lithgow Confirmed His Long-Term Harry Potter Involvement
The experienced actor, known for his role in Dexter, recently shared that he’s committed to playing Dumbledore for the next eight years, even though he just turned 80. He joked that signing the contract meant he needed to stay healthy enough to reach the age of 88, and he has it all written down in his contract.
Warner Bros. has announced a new Harry Potter television series planned to begin in 2027 and span ten years. Each season will adapt one of the seven books in the series.
Harry Potter is expected to premiere on HBO Max in early 2027.
Read More
- United Airlines can now kick passengers off flights and ban them for not using headphones
- All Golden Ball Locations in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
- Best Zombie Movies (October 2025)
- These are the 25 best PlayStation 5 games
- 15 Lost Disney Movies That Will Never Be Released
- Every Major Assassin’s Creed DLC, Ranked
- How To Find The Uxantis Buried Treasure In GreedFall: The Dying World
- Adolescence’s Co-Creator Is Making A Lord Of The Flies Show. Everything We Know About The Book-To-Screen Adaptation
- What are the Minecraft Far Lands & how to get there
- Gold Rate Forecast
2026-03-17 18:37