Harry Potter HBO Series Eyes John Lithgow to Play Dumbledore
Actor John Lithgow, currently seen on the big screen in Oscar-hopeful Conclave, is reportedly in final talks to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming TV adaptation of the Harry Potter franchise.
Both Deadline and Variety have confirmed Lithgow to be in final talks for the role, although HBO declined to comment stating: “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
The character of Dumbledore was originally portrayed by Richard Harris in the first two “Harry Potter” films and by Micheal Gambon in subsequent films after Harris’ death. The head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dumbledore is a powerful Wizard and a key mentor to Harry during his time at Hogwarts.
Lithgow, a six-time Emmy winner, is best known for his roles in 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Crown, and The Old Man. His potential casting signifies a departure from the infamous “British-only” rule that dictated the original film franchise’s casting. The rule famously led to Hollywood star Robin Williams being rejected for the role of Hagrid. While a number of stars, including Mark Rylance, Paapa Essiedu, and Cillian Murphy have been in talks for a variety of roles, Lithgow is the first American in consideration – if he does indeed snag the Dumbledore, this could signify a brand-new direction for the franchise. After all, he did play Winston Churchill…
The Harry Potter TV series comes from Succession duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod who will be writer/showrunner and director/executive producer respectively. It will be filmed at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, the same studio where the original films were shot, and is set to debut on HBO in 2026.
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