Following his role as Dumbledore, John Lithgow has expressed his thoughts on a debate that’s arisen concerning the new cast of HBO’s Harry Potter television series.
The upcoming Harry Potter series, crafted by Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, is planned to be an “accurate representation” of all seven books written by JK Rowling. They aim to commence filming towards the end of this year, with a potential release slated for late 2026 or early 2027.
In the upcoming show, characters such as Harry, Hermione, Ron, Draco, and Neville (alongside other students) haven’t been chosen for their roles yet, but Warner Bros has revealed who will portray six significant characters.
One of them is Lithgow playing Albus Dumbledore, who was previously depicted by both Richard Harris and Michael Gambon as the headmaster of Hogwarts. His selection for this role breaks a rule within the franchise, and he aims to silence the doubters with his performance.
Lithgow is the new Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, previously played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. This casting choice goes against one of the series’ rules, but Lithgow intends to convince the skeptics with his portrayal.
John Lithgow admits feeling “intimidated” about playing Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter
On The One Show, when asked about joining the project, Lithgow expressed feeling both thrilled and intimidated.
I’ll be stepping into the shoes of the renowned Michael Gambon, though I hail from a different land, I’ve portrayed an Englishman on screen. Let me clarify, I played Winston Churchill in “The Crown” and held my own in the role.
Even though some found it surprising that an American was chosen for the role of the iconic English sorcerer, I’m committed to giving it my all.
Lithgow breaks the pattern of primarily using British and Irish actors for Harry Potter roles, a decision initially made by J.K. Rowling who aimed to have a completely British cast for the films. Despite this, Rowling continues to serve as an executive producer in the latest series.
HBO has officially announced the first cast members for its original Harry Potter series:
— Harry Potter Stuff ⚯͛ (@TheHPfacts) April 14, 2025
I hop on board, teaming up with Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer in her Professor McGonagall role, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon playing Professor Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch. In this magical world, we’re set to embark on an unforgettable adventure together!
As unhappy as some traditionalists may be, Lithgow isn’t taking the responsibility lightly.
He found it a challenging choice since it would significantly impact the final phase of his life; he expressed some apprehension due to his advanced age… At approximately 87 years old, he will be attending the celebration, yet he agreed to it, as reported to ScreenRant.
While you wait, let’s discover how to watch the Harry Potter films online, delve into the speculations surrounding Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and explore other TV series set to premiere this month.
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2025-04-17 17:21