John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, the actor told Screen Rant in an interview.
Lithgow, the actor known for his roles in films including The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, and Conclave, and the series 3rd Rock From the Sun and The Crown, had been rumored to be playing the role, as Variety reported earlier this month.
The streaming service Max announced it was developing a television adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s phenomenally successful Harry Potter children’s fantasy book series in 2023; the following year it was announced that the series would air on HBO instead of Max.
Details about the production and casting have been scant, although Rowling will be one of its executive producers. The series will be the second time Rowling’s books have made it to the screen; the novels formed the basis for eight films that starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.
Dumbledore, the headmaster of Harry’s wizarding school Hogwarts, was played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the films.
Lithgow said the offer to star in the series came as “a total surprise.”
“It was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid,” he said. “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.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
