John Lithgow has officially confirmed that he will be stepping into the legendary role of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. However, while the actor is preparing to don the robes of Hogwarts’ revered headmaster, he is also well aware of the controversy surrounding his casting.
Lithgow on Taking the Role of a Lifetime
Speaking to Collider at the premiere of The Rule of Jenny Pen, Lithgow opened up about both his excitement and the challenges of playing one of the most iconic wizards in literature. "It’s pretty scary, but it’s certainly not anything I would dream of saying no to," he admitted.
"I’m about to turn 80 next year. By the time we wrap, I’ll be 86 or 87. It’s a wonderful winding-down role. I know I’ll be working with some of the best English-speaking actors in the world, and I just want to do it justice."
The Harry Potter reboot, spearheaded by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod, will adapt each book into a dedicated season. Filming is set to take place at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the same location where the original films were made. The series is slated for release in late 2026 or early 2027.
An American Dumbledore? Lithgow Reacts to Fan Backlash
One of the biggest talking points surrounding Lithgow’s casting is the fact that he is the first American actor to portray Dumbledore. Previous actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon were both Irish, and even Jude Law, who played a younger version of the character in the Fantastic Beasts prequels, is British.
Acknowledging the skepticism, Lithgow addressed the issue directly: "[He’s] certainly an Englishman. In fact, there’s a good deal of controversy that an American has been hired to play him," he admitted. However, he assured fans that he would fully embrace the role with the right approach. "I’ve played Winston Churchill. I’ve played Roald Dahl. I’ll spend time with a dialect coach. Don’t worry about that. Dumbledore couldn’t possibly be anything other than English — I just have to do my best."
From Roald Dahl to Hogwarts
Before he starts filming Harry Potter, Lithgow will be finishing up his current run portraying Roald Dahl in a stage production on London’s West End. He joked about the transition, saying, "I’ll be doing makeup and hair tests for Dumbledore in the final weeks of my Dahl performance. It’s straight out of the frying pan and into the fire."
While fans may remain divided, Lithgow is ready to embrace the challenge and hopes to do justice to the character. With HBO’s ambitious new adaptation on the horizon, audiences will soon see how his portrayal of the beloved headmaster takes shape.
