John Lithgow has been cast as Professor Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter television series. In 2023, Warner Bros Discovery and HBO announced plans for a scripted “10 Years Series,” promising a “Faithful Adaptation” of J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series. Lithgow recently confirmed his role in an interview, putting to rest long-running rumors about his involvement in the project.
He expressed his surprise at the casting news, stating, “Well, that was a complete surprise for me. I just received a call for another film at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s easy because it defines me for the final chapter of my life. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I’m really excited.” The 79-year-old actor noted that the interest in Harry Potter made the decision challenging, humorously mentioning that he was “about 87 at a wrap party” and still agreeing to take on the role.
Despite Lithgow’s enthusiasm, an HBO representative stated that the deal has not yet been finalized. They acknowledged the speculation surrounding such a prominent series, noting, “We only confirm details once a deal is completed.”
Currently, no additional casting information has been released, although there have been reports of auditions for young actors to portray the main characters: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. Filming is expected to commence in the UK during the summer of 2025, with the first episode set to debut either in late 2026 or early 2027.
For context, the character of Dumbledore was originally played by Richard Harris in the first two Harry Potter films. Following Harris’s death in 2002, the role was taken over by Michael Gambon for the remaining six films, which were released between 2004 and 2011.
