John Lithgow Hints At Playing Dumbledore In HBO’s “Harry Potter” Reboot

It looks like John Lithgow is ready to trade Hollywood for Hogwarts. The 79-year-old actor has seemingly confirmed that he will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series. In an interview with ScreenRant, John revealed that the opportunity “came as a total surprise,” but he’s embracing the challenge.

He got the news while attending the Sundance Film Festival and admitted it wasn’t an easy decision. With the series set to span multiple seasons and cover all seven of J.K. Rowling’s books, the role of Dumbledore is a major commitment. “…It’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid,” he said.

Despite the long journey ahead, John is “very excited” and praised the creative team behind the adaptation as “wonderful.” He acknowledged the time-consuming nature of the project, joking, “I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”

However, while John seems certain about the role, HBO isn’t confirming anything just yet. In a statement to PEOPLE, the network addressed the growing speculation, saying, “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.” Sources say Lithgow’s contract hasn’t been closed, meaning fans will have to wait for an official announcement.

Since the series was first announced in April 2023, no other casting rumors have been this close to confirmation. Rowling, who is serving as an executive producer, assured fans in June that the show would “more than live up to expectations.” She praised Succession alums Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, who have joined as writer and director, respectively, saying they “both have a genuine passion” for the Harry Potter story.

In September, casting call posters surfaced online, seeking new actors to play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. According to the listings, children between the ages of 9 and 11 from Ireland or the U.K. were eligible to audition.

Interestingly, Gary Oldman, who played Sirius Black in the original films, once joked about stepping into Dumbledore’s shoes. In an interview with IndieWire last year, the 66-year-old actor said he hadn’t been approached for the series but quipped, “Maybe in a few years, I could do Dumbledore.” He doubted it would happen, though, predicting HBO would bring in “a whole new cast of people.”