John Lithgow Confirms Dumbledore Casting, Talks HBO’s Harry Potter Show
Golden Globe winner John Lithgow (The Crown, Conclave) has officially opened up about his involvement in HBO’s upcoming show, making him the first confirmed cast member of the TV adaptation. The acclaimed actor will be portraying the iconic role of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who was famously played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the blockbuster franchise.
The series is described as a “decade-long” project, with each season expected to adapt one book in Rowling’s acclaimed book series. At the moment, the casting search for the next Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasly is still underway in the U.K. and Ireland. The chosen child actors must be aged 9 to 11 in April 2025, teasing its potential production start date.
During a recent interview, Lithgow recalled the story of how he was cast for the Harry Potter show, while admitting that saying yes to the project was definitely not an easy decision to make.
“Well, it came as a total surprise to me. I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid,” Lithgow shared (via Screen Rant). “But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That’s why it’s been such a hard decision. I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”
The HBO adaptation is being written by Emmy-winning-producer Francesca Gardiner (Killing Eve, Succession). The series is executive produced by Gardiner, Mark Mylod, Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and long-time Harry Potter franchise producer David Heyman. Mylod, who has worked with HBO on Games of Thrones and The Last of Us, will also helm multiple episodes. It is a production by HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television.
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