John Lithgow confirms he will play Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter series

The Harry Potter television series has officially found its headmaster at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.John Lithgow, 79, recently confirmed that he has said “yes” to the role of Albus Dumbledore/Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming series adaptation of J. K. Rowling's hit books. Sources reported last month that Lithgow was in talks for the role.



“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” the veteran actor (photo) 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.”

Lithgow follows in the footsteps of other actors who played Dumbledore in the blockbusters, including Richard Harris, who played the character in the first two films. Michael Gambon took over the role after Harris died in 2002. Gambon died in 2023.

In a career that has spanned decades and dozens of acting roles, as well as Emmy wins and Oscar nominations, Lithgow's most recent television projects include The Old Man, Dexter: New Blood and Perry Mason (2020).

The Harry Potter series, which begins filming this summer, is described as a "more in-depth" adaptation of Rowling's seven-book series compared to the film franchise. The book series follows an orphaned boy, Harry Potter, who discovers he is a wizard and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There he learns to control his magical powers and defeats the evil Lord Voldemort. Francesca Gardiner serves as showrunner for the series, with Mark Mylod set to direct multiple episodes.

Sources have now learned that Lithgow's deal to play Dumbledore has not yet been closed. While HBO was unable to confirm the actor's casting, it shared in a statement: "We recognize that such a high-profile series will generate a lot of rumors and speculation. As we move through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals."