Harry Potter fans have been left with rather mixed emotions after it was reported American actor John Lithgow is in final negotiations to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series.
The 79-year-old star is poised to take on the role of Hogwarts’ beloved headmaster, following in the footsteps of Richard Harris and Michael Gambon who portrayed the character in the film series.
The casting would mark the first major role to be filled for the highly anticipated adaptation, which is expected to begin production this summer.
Lithgow’s CV is an impressive one, with two Oscar nominations under his belt and his latest box office smash, Conclave, poised for awards glory in the coming weeks.
Despite this, the fact Lithgow is American has left diehard fans of the JK Rowling-created series unimpressed with the idea of a non-Brit taking on such an iconic role.
So much so, that social media was awash with furious complaints from some members of the fandom who expressed their desire for TV bosses to U-turn on the reported casting.
John Lithgow has reportedly signed up to star in the new Harry Potter TV series as Dumbledore
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“Like how hard is it to find a British older actor, is that too much to ask?” one X user asked as they reacted to the reports online.
A second fan of Lithgow’s even weighed in: “Love Lithgow but this has to be the absolute worst casting I could imagine for Dumbledore.”
“Nothing against John Lithgow, but he’s an American who was horribly cast as Churchill on The Crown. His accent would come and go and it wasn’t believable. To hire him for this iconic role, when he clearly cannot portray a British character, it would take away from the magic,” a third echoed.
“I think John Lithgow is an amazing actor. However, he is not British, and I feel that the Potter series should keep British actors to maintain the feel,” a fourth mused before a fifth weighed in: “Huh? I like John Lithgow. But he isn’t British. What happened to Mark Rylance? He was perfect casting for Dumbledore.”
John Lithgow is in final talks to star as Dumbledore in the ‘HARRY POTTER’ TV series
(Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/s1x10j9TC4
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 12, 2025
There was some support for the reported casting decision, however, as one fan argued: “I would usually be against an american in such a role. And they really should strive for almost all English and British……. however john lithgow is 1 of best actors in history i would really love this if it happened.” (sic)
HBO, the network behind the series, has described the show as “a faithful adaptation” that will introduce a new generation to the beloved characters and adventures.
The streaming service plans for the show to run for over a decade, with each season bringing the magical world to new audiences globally.
The series will be filmed at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, where the original movies were made.
The show is currently scheduled to premiere in 2026, though some reports suggest it could be as late as early 2027.
HBO has refrained from officially confirming Lithgow’s casting, instead addressing the speculation with a measured statement.
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Richard Harris (second from right) played Dumbledore in the first Harry Potter film
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“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumour and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalise deals,” the network told Deadline.
The series comes from writer/showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod, known for His Darkest Materials and Succession respectively.