John Lithgow Reveals He’s the New Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter Series: “This Is Going to Define the Last Chapter of My Life”
John Lithgow confirms that he will play Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter TV show. Following the success of the eight Warner Bros. films, J. K. Rowling’s beloved book series is now set to make the jump to the small screen in a new series on HBO. Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner for the Harry Potter TV show, but who will star in the series has remained a mystery. Last week, it was reported that Lithgow could be nearing a deal to star as Dumbledore, a role previously played by the late actors Michael Gambon and Richard Harris.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley today to promote his new project, The Rule of Jenny Penn, Lithgow now officially confirms that he has been cast as the Hogwarts Headmaster in HBO’s Harry Potter TV show. Though the actor, who is 79, doesn’t spill any details about the series, he does admit that the decision to accept was challenging because of the immense time commitment at this stage of his career. Check out Lithgow’s comment below:
Well, it came as a total surprise to me. I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, 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. 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.
What John Lithgow’s Dumbledore Casting Means For The Harry Potter TV Show
The HBO Series Is Inching Closer
Lithgow’s comment makes him the first actor to be confirmed for the Harry Potter TV show’s cast. It’s possible that he wasn’t supposed to share this news just yet given how quiet HBO has been on casting reports thus far, but it speaks to how development on the series is going behind the scenes. The show is currently targeting a release in late 2026 or early 2027, and HBO has confirmed that filming on the episodes will begin in summer 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the U.K.
With Lithgow having now broken the seal, so to speak, it’s possible that more casting announcements will follow in the weeks ahead. So far, it’s been reported that Paapa Essiedu has been eyed to play Severus Snape in the show, and confirmation on this could arrive in the near future. Who will play the main trio of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley has so far remained a mystery, but the show reportedly put out a wide casting call for the young characters, meaning the actors chosen may not be recognizable names.
“An American joining the show means it may not be putting as much of a focus on casting only British actors.”
One aspect of Lithgow’s casting that is particularly interesting is the fact that he is American. The core cast of the eight Harry Potter movies consisted of actors almost exclusively from the U.K., including the main trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. An American joining the show means it may not be putting as much of a focus on casting only British actors. This opens the door wide when it comes to choosing actors for other characters. Even if some actors end up being American, however, it’s likely they will be adopting British accents.
Where You’ve Seen John Lithgow Before
The Actor’s Past Roles Explained
Lithgow isn’t known for his leading man roles, and has instead been celebrated for his wide variety of supporting characters over the course of his 50-plus-year career. He appeared in last year’s acclaimed Conclave, as well as movies like Cliffhanger (1993), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), Daddy’s Home 2 (2017), Interstellar (2014), and Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). Though not a live-action role, Lithgow’s voice performance as Lord Farquaad in Shrek (2001) is also notable.
Note
Lithgow has been nominated for two Oscars. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for both The World According to Garp (1982) and Terms of Endearment (1983)
In the world of TV, he recently played a prominent role opposite Jeff Bridges in The Old Man (2022 – 2024), but one of his memorable TV performances was as Winston Churchill on The Crown (2016 – 2019). Lithgow sported a very convincing British accent for his role as Churchill, suggesting audiences won’t have to worry about this when it comes to his Dumbledore performance. Lithgow also served as the Trinity Killer in season 4 of Dexter, and he’s one of the big reasons why that season is widely considered the Showtime series’ best.
| John Lithgow’s Top 5 Titles On Rotten Tomatoes | |
|---|---|
| Title | RT Score |
| Love Is Strange (2014) | 93% |
| Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) | 93% |
| Conclave (2024) | 93% |
| Kinsey (2004) | 90% |
| Cabrini (2024) | 90% |
Our Take On John Lithgow’s Dumbledore Casting
Lithgow Inherits A Special Harry Potter Character
Both Gambon and Harris have left big shoes for Lithgow to fill. In addition to the main trio, Dumbledore remains one of the most important characters in the Harry Potter universe, and he would even go on to become a main character in the latter Fantastic Beasts films. After his standout performance Conclave, as well as his impressive resume of supporting performances, however, Lithgow certainly seems up to the task of playing the iconic Hogwarts Headmaster.
“It will be a challenge to reach the high bar set by the eight core films in the saga, and making bold creative choices seems like the best way for the show to chart its own path forward.”
Given how much love there is for the world of Harry Potter, there are sure to be some strong feelings about Lithgow’s casting, and in fact all castings that are still to come. This is especially true because Lithgow is American. It will be a challenge to reach the high bar set by the eight core films in the saga, and making bold creative choices seems like the best way for the show to chart its own path forward. Many questions still remain about the Harry Potter show, but this latest casting confirmation certainly makes it feel one big step closer.
