Following reports of his potential involvement in the Harry Potter series, John Lithgow has now confirmed that he will be playing Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s new television series based on J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. However, despite the buzz surrounding his casting, there has been considerable discourse for various reasons.
While some Potterheads want the showrunners to continue following the ‘British actors only’ rule from the film series, others have shared their discomfort with Lithgow’s collaboration with Rowling, especially due to his role in the 1982 romantic comedy and its conflicting nature with the author’s controversial stance.
John Lithgow to play Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter TV series
Following the huge success of the film series, HBO announced a new Harry Potter adaptation for television. Based on each book in J.K. Rowling’s series, the show is expected to run for at least seven seasons.
And John Lithgow has recently confirmed that he will be playing the role of Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts, in the new TV series. “Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” he told ScreenRant in a recent interview.
He continued,
I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival, 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,” he further said before adding, “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.”
The iconic role was previously portrayed by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the Harry Potter film series. While HBO has released a statement, it has yet to officially confirm his casting in the series.
Despite his prolific career spanning over five decades, many have expressed concern over an American actor taking on the role. Additionally, his involvement in the series has also sparked debate over the contrasting ideologies of the actor and the Harry Potter author.
John Lithgow’s Harry Potter role sparks debate due to J.K. Rowling’s controversies
John Lithgow has long advocated for inclusivity and is known for portraying LGBTQ+ characters, including the “revolutionary” role of Roberta Muldoon, a transgender woman, in the 1982 romantic comedy, The World According to Garp. The film grossed $29.7 million at the box office. (Box Office Mojo)
The role earned him widespread praise for its sensitivity at a time when trans representation was rare in Hollywood and even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Talking about his role in the 1982 film, Lithgow said that he “just decided to underplay everything [and] make her a perfectly normal person — in fact, a person who is utterly unaffected.” He also noted that the character “feels more herself than she’s ever been.” Lithgow told HuffPost, “In that sense, it was revolutionary.”
The two-time Oscar-nominee continued playing such inclusive characters throughout his career, including his roles in Love is Strange and, more recently, in the drama film Jimpa.
However, his open support for inclusivity contrasts sharply with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling‘s controversial remarks about the trans community.
I do not expect 79 year old John Lithgow to be privy to online discourse or maybe even know how or why JK Rowling has fallen off in recent years, but you would think that someone in his circle would have advised him to stay away during this “hard” decision process. https://t.co/LpQOd9Dv1y
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) February 25, 2025
Wasn’t he also nominated for an Oscar for portraying a trans woman? Such a shame he’s taken this role, especially when he’s previously been quoted as saying things like this about said character. pic.twitter.com/ZhcdVUZVVG
— S. (@Theatrefan1994) February 25, 2025
This is who actors signing onto Harry Potter, like John Lithgow, are supporting. pic.twitter.com/AVnndldq2c
— Tom (@fulcrumlives327) February 26, 2025
Very disappointed in @JohnLithgow choosing to side with transphobia. I hope someone with a conscience, to whom he will listen, will pull him aside and advise him to choose a better path for the last stage of his storied career.
— David Dault is editing today (He, His) (@DaultRadio) February 26, 2025
I typically adore John Lithgow. That said, imagine deciding to dedicate the likely last decade of your life to (1) a TV remake of perfectly good film adaptations, and (2) on a series that has been forever sullied by its absolutely awful, bigoted transphobic creator. https://t.co/urljO4jPkk
— Dustin Putman (@DustinPutman) February 26, 2025
She has constantly received criticism for her transphobic views, leading to disappointment among fans regarding Lithgow’s decision to collaborate with her on the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
“John Lithgow making a name for himself playing a trans woman character only to take the JK Rowling check at the end of his career is so f**king annoying,” one X (Twitter) user said, sharing their reaction.
Fans find it troubling that, despite his years of advocacy and groundbreaking roles, Lithgow accepted the role in a series based on Rowling’s books, and due to her reported close involvement in the production.
The Harry Potter TV series is expected to release on MAX in 2026.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
