John Lithgow has announced that he will be taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the forthcoming television adaptation of the Harry Potter series. In an interview with Screenland on February 25, the 79-year-old actor expressed that accepting the role was a significant choice, especially as it will impact this stage of his life. He remarked, “It was a tough decision because I realize how much attention amazing people are giving to Harry Potter, but I agreed despite my age at almost 87.”
Lithgow mentioned that the opportunity to portray the wise headmaster of Hogwarts was an unexpected one. Although he confirmed his involvement with the project, HBO indicated that the formal agreement has not yet been finalized. In their statement to Screenland, the network acknowledged the rumors that often accompany such a popular series and noted that they would only clarify details once the deal is fully completed during pre-production.
As Lithgow steps into the role of Dumbledore, he follows Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, who previously played the character in the earlier films. Notably, Lithgow will be the first American actor to portray Dumbledore onscreen, marking a shift from the casting in the original movies.
While no additional casting information has been released regarding the “Harry Potter” TV series, which is set to begin filming this summer, various rumors are circulating about potential cast members. Cillian Murphy’s name has been mentioned in speculation about playing either Lord Voldemort or Professor Quirrell, while there are strong rumors suggesting that Paapa Essiedu will portray Severus Snape, and Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein might take on the role of Rubeus Hagrid.
Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the original film series, hinted earlier this month that he is aware of the casting choices, calling the selected actors “incredible” without revealing any names.
All eight Harry Potter films are currently available for streaming on Peacock. For support of journalism, subscriptions to NJ.com are encouraged, and any tips can be directed to nj.com/tips/.
