New Harry Potter Star John Lithgow Confronts J.K. Rowling Controversy After Casting Backlash

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John Lithgow is addressing the criticism he’s received after signing on to the new Harry Potter TV series on HBO.

John Lithgow is a prominent actor in HBO’s new Harry Potter series, taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore previously played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. However, his involvement, along with other actors, has faced criticism due to J.K. Rowling’s controversial views and actions regarding transgender people. Lithgow recently spoke about this backlash, explaining that a friend – the mother of a transgender child – alerted him to an open letter asking him to withdraw from the show. He described this as a warning sign, but firmly stated he had no intention of leaving the role.

I’m still hearing that John Lithgow is committed to playing Dumbledore, but he’s been much more direct about the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling. Speaking at the Rotterdam Film Festival while promoting his new film, Jimpa, Lithgow made it clear he takes Rowling’s transphobic views very seriously, even calling them ironic and, frankly, inexplicable. Here’s what he had to say…

I’m really passionate about this, honestly. What she’s built – this incredible collection of stories for young audiences – has genuinely become part of our culture. At its heart, it’s a classic battle between good and evil, kindness and cruelty. But I find her personal beliefs… well, a bit baffling, and frankly, ironic. I’ve never actually met her, and she isn’t involved with this particular project, but the team working on it? They’re phenomenal.

It bothers me when people object to my involvement, but there’s absolutely no evidence of transphobic views within the established “Harry Potter” storyline. The author created a story centered around compassion and understanding, and Dumbledore is a wonderfully positive character.

It was a difficult choice, and I felt uneasy and upset that others wanted me to quit my job. However, I decided to stay.

Lithgow said he welcomes differing viewpoints, stating, “I’m perfectly ready for collisions of opinion. I understand it.” He also playfully mentioned his long-term commitment to the role of Dumbledore, joking that he recently turned 80 but signed a contract to play the character for another eight years. He quipped, “I absolutely have to keep at it! It means I’ll live to be 88,” adding that he has it all in writing.

I’ve been following the whole situation with John Lithgow and it’s good to hear him say he really understands why J.K. Rowling is so controversial now, and that he definitely doesn’t agree with her views on transgender people. He still feels strongly about playing the role, though, because he believes the Harry Potter books themselves stand for things that are the opposite of transphobia. But it’s also clear not everyone is happy with him continuing, even with his explanation. Someone at a recent event even walked out, saying it just doesn’t feel right, and honestly, I can see where they’re coming from.

The new HBO series boasts a talented cast, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Joining them are Nick Frost as Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Janet McTeer as McGonagall. Notably, Warwick Davis is the only actor reprising his movie role as Filius Flitwick. Paul Whitehouse, who previously appeared as Sir Cadogan in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (though his scenes didn’t make the final cut), will play Argus Filch.

HBO expects the first season of Harry Potter to debut in 2027, likely in the early part of the year. According to HBO executive Casey Bloys, they haven’t determined a specific release date yet.

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2026-02-02 00:10