HBO is making significant strides with its upcoming Harry Potter television series and appears to have landed its first confirmed casting choice: John Lithgow has reportedly been cast as the new Professor Dumbledore. This marks a major milestone for the highly anticipated reboot of the beloved franchise.
According to recent reports, HBO has been searching for the perfect actor to portray Albus Dumbledore for quite some time, and it seems that search has finally concluded. During an interview with *ScreenRant*, Lithgow revealed that he has officially accepted the role, calling it a life-defining opportunity.
“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,”
Lithgow explained. He continued by expressing his excitement about joining such an iconic universe and working alongside a team passionate about bringing the magic back to fans:
“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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This casting announcement represents the first official on-screen talent attachment to the new HBO Harry Potter TV show. However, it remains unofficial until HBO and Warner Bros. formally confirm Lithgow’s involvement.
The network’s vision involves a complete re-adaptation of all seven original J.K. Rowling novels, presented through a fresh lens with an entirely new ensemble cast. Iconic characters like Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and other Hogwarts favorites will be reintroduced to a new generation of viewers. J.K. Rowling will serve as executive producer, alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts, ensuring continuity and fidelity to the source material.
Despite Lithgow’s confirmation, the lack of a finalized cast list indicates that production on the series is likely still in early stages. Given the scale and complexity of the project, audiences may still be several years away from seeing the first episode air.
John Lithgow brings decades of acting experience to the table, having built a distinguished career across both film and television. Best known for his iconic portrayal of Dick Solomon in the sitcom *3rd Rock from the Sun*, Lithgow also earned critical acclaim and an Emmy Award for his powerful performance as Winston Churchill in the first season of *The Crown* on Netflix.
