John Lithgow is taking on two iconic roles, one of which is brand new. In an episode of “Knowing Line” with Variety, he announced that he will portray Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series, in addition to reprising his role as the Trinity Killer in “Dexter.” Lithgow acknowledged that he has a significant amount of work ahead for the Dumbledore character.
He remarked on the impact of the “Harry Potter” series, stating, “The Harry Potter canon is essentially a part of 98% of the world’s population.” He noted that accepting this role was a major decision that would consume the next few years of his life, emphasizing, “And I’m not young. So this might be the final major role I undertake.”
Lithgow carefully considered taking on the role of Dumbledore, expressing his curiosity with, “My primary question for them was, ‘What’s new about this? Why add more to the canon when it’s already successful?'” He mentioned that the creative team presented compelling reasons that made it seem fresh and innovative.
The HBO series will air on Max and dedicate an entire television season to each book, offering deeper storytelling than the films. Lithgow has begun studying the original books by J.K. Rowling for preparation.
“As the characters mature in the book, Dumbledore becomes a more complex and intriguing figure,” he shared. “They explained this to me, and I’m excited to explore and make this role my own.”
Lithgow also expressed admiration for his predecessor, Michael Gambon, stating, “I was a huge fan of Michael Gambon. Though we never met, I always looked up to him. Coincidentally, we share the same birthday, which feels like a magical connection.”
In addition, Lithgow provided insights about his surprising return to “Dexter,” despite his character’s apparent demise in Season 4.
“I’ve come back for the day,” he stated. “They’re rebooting the Michael C. Hall version of ‘Dexter,’ and it turns out I didn’t actually die in the end. I return in a ghostly form as he starts to regain consciousness in a hospital bed.”
You can watch the full “Knowing Line” segment above.
