John Lithgow has confirmed that he has accepted the role of Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series, sharing that while the opportunity thrills him, it also comes with a sense of fear.
The 79-year-old actor spoke to Screen Rant while promoting his latest project, horror film The Rule of Jenny Pen, revealing that stepping into the role of the legendary Hogwarts headmaster wasn’t an easy decision.
“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” Lithgow said. “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.”
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Despite his enthusiasm, Lithgow acknowledges the weight of the role, which was inhabited by both Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the film series. With HBO looking to deliver a “more in-depth” adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books, the series will demand a significant time commitment, something the actor admits played a role in his hesitation.
However, while Lithgow has confirmed he has said yes to playing Dumbledore, his deal has yet to be finalised. The Hollywood Reporter has noted that an official contract has not been signed, with HBO 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.”
Set to begin filming this summer, the Harry Potter television series will be led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner, who previously served as consulting producer on Succession, and writer and executive producer on His Dark Materials. Succession and Game of Thrones director Mark Mylod is attached to helm multiple episodes.
