Earlier this week, it was revealed that John Lithgow will portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter television series. As reported by Deseret News, the “Footloose” star was taken aback to receive the offer to play the esteemed and elderly professor, but he expressed his excitement about the role.
One notable aspect of this casting announcement is that Lithgow is American. While his nationality does not diminish his acting ability, it may raise some eyebrows, especially since most principal roles in the original film series were filled by British actors. Dumbledore’s character is particularly significant, having been portrayed by three different actors throughout the franchise.
Richard Harris originally played Dumbledore in the first two films, after which Michael Gambon stepped in following Harris’s death in 2002. The character also made an appearance in the “Fantastic Beasts” series, portrayed by Jude Law as a younger, charismatic professor.
Gamerant highlights that Lithgow’s casting marks a significant departure from the previous portrayals. So far, only two other actors have been linked to the series, both of whom are British. Paapa Essiedu has been mentioned as a candidate for the enigmatic Professor Severus Snape, while Cillian Murphy is rumored to play Voldemort. However, neither of these roles has been confirmed yet.
The original films predominantly featured British actors due to J.K. Rowling’s initial vision and the stance of Chris Columbus, the American director of the first two installments, who felt it was vital to adhere to this “British only” guideline. This insistence was so strong that Robin Williams was turned down for the role of Hagrid in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” as was David Thewlis for the role of Lupin in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Columbus mentioned that while he believed Williams would have excelled in the role, he was also pleased with Thewlis’s performance. Notably, Columbus’s daughter, Eleanor Columbus, did appear in the first film, albeit without any speaking lines.
Regarding what Lithgow’s casting means for the series, Gamerant reports that it has two significant implications. First, it may open doors for American actors to contribute to beloved narratives, potentially leading to a series that offers a “dramatically different look and feel” compared to the original films. HBO has also committed to creating a diverse and inclusive cast. Nonetheless, it’s suggested that Lithgow might be an exception, while the remainder of the cast may still predominantly consist of British actors, leaving fans to wait for further announcements.
