John Lithgow Reveals He'll Play Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter TV Series

HBO's highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series is making significant strides, with the first major casting announcement: the legendary John Lithgow will portray the beloved Professor Dumbledore. While not yet officially confirmed by HBO or Warner Bros., Lithgow himself confirmed his involvement in an interview with ScreenRant.

Lithgow shared that the offer came as a surprise, stating, “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.”

How to Watch Harry Potter in Chronological Order

12 Images

This casting marks the first official confirmation for the upcoming series, although the lack of a full cast suggests production is still some time away. HBO plans a complete re-adaptation of J.K. Rowling's books, featuring an entirely new cast to portray Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and the rest of the Hogwarts community. Rowling will serve as an executive producer alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.

Lithgow, a highly acclaimed actor known for his roles in 3rd Rock from the Sun and his Emmy-winning portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Crown, brings a wealth of experience to the role. His involvement further elevates anticipation for this ambitious television project.