UPDATE: 2025/02/25 21:02 EST BY MATTHEW RUDOY
John Lithgow’s Harry Potter Deal Has Not Officially Closed Yet
HBO has provided the following statement to ScreenRant‘s Rob Keyes:
We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.
The original story continues below.
John Lithgow confirms that he will play Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter
TV show. Following the success of the eight Warner Bros. films, J. K. Rowling’s beloved book series is now set to make the jump to the small screen in a new series on HBO. Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner for the Harry Potter TV show, but who will star in the series has remained a mystery. Last week, it was reported that Lithgow could be nearing a deal to star as Dumbledore, a role previously played by the late actors Michael Gambon and Richard Harris.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley today to promote his new project, The Rule of Jenny Penn, Lithgow now officially confirms that he has been cast as the Hogwarts Headmaster in HBO’s Harry Potter TV show. Though the actor, who is 79, doesn’t spill any details about the series, he does admit that the decision to accept was challenging because of the immense time commitment at this stage of his career. Check out Lithgow’s comment below:
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. 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.
What John Lithgow’s Dumbledore Casting Means For The Harry Potter TV Show
The HBO Series Is Inching Closer
Lithgow’s comment makes him the first actor to be confirmed for the Harry Potter TV show’s cast. It’s possible that he wasn’t supposed to share this news just yet given how quiet HBO has been on casting reports thus far, but it speaks to how development on the series is going behind the scenes. The show is currently targeting a release in late 2026 or early 2027, and HBO has confirmed that filming on the episodes will begin in summer 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the U.K.
Related
The Harry Potter TV show is set to recapture the magic of the books, but one of the first casting rumors suggests it’s already pulling away.
With Lithgow having now broken the seal, so to speak, it’s possible that more casting announcements will follow in the weeks ahead. So far, it’s been reported that Paapa Essiedu has been eyed to play Severus Snape in the show, and confirmation on this could arrive in the near future. Who will play the main trio of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley has so far remained a mystery, but the show reportedly put out a wide casting call for the young characters, meaning the actors chosen may not be recognizable names.
After the eight Harry Potter movies cast primarily British actors, the American Lithgow being cast as Dumbledore marks a significant franchise first.
Our Take On John Lithgow’s Dumbledore Casting
Lithgow Inherits A Special Harry Potter Character
Both Gambon and Harris have left big shoes for Lithgow to fill. In addition to the main trio, Dumbledore remains one of the most important characters in the Harry Potter universe, and he would even go on to become a main character in the latter Fantastic Beasts films. After his standout performance in last year’s acclaimed Conclave, as well as his performances in projects like Cliffhanger (1993), The Old Man (2022 – 2024), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), and Interstellar (2014), Lithgow certainly seems up to the task.
It will be a challenge to reach the high bar set by the eight core films in the saga, and making bold creative choices seems like the best way for the show to chart its own path forward.
Given how much love there is for the world of Harry Potter, there are sure to be some strong feelings about Lithgow’s casting, and in fact all castings that are still to come. This is especially true because Lithgow is American. It will be a challenge to reach the high bar set by the eight core films in the saga, and making bold creative choices seems like the best way for the show to chart its own path forward. Many questions still remain about the Harry Potter show, but this latest casting confirmation certainly makes it feel one big step closer.
