HBO is reportedly on the verge of casting American actor John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore in the highly anticipated TV adaptation of the Harry Potter franchise. Lithgow is being considered for the role of the legendary Hogwarts headmaster, who serves as a mentor to Harry Potter. HBO has not confirmed the casting and declined to comment.
If Lithgow secures the role, he would make history as the first non-British actor to portray Dumbledore. Previous actors who have played the iconic character include Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the original Harry Potter films, as well as Jude Law and Toby Regbo in the Fantastic Beasts prequel series.
Lithgow, renowned for his roles in Dexter, The Crown, Conclave, and 3rd Rock From The Sun, has earned six Emmy awards over his distinguished career. His potential casting follows reports from November that Mark Rylance had been a frontrunner for the role of Dumbledore. As of now, no casting announcements have been made, including for the titular character.
Additional updates on the adult cast are expected in the near future, as production is set to begin at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, where the original films were shot, this summer. Rumors have circulated about potential castings for major characters, with Cillian Murphy being suggested for Voldemort and Paapa Essiedu reportedly in talks to play Severus Snape.
The series, which is projected to span a decade, was recently delayed until 2027. Warner Bros. Discovery’s global streaming chief JB Perrette emphasized the significance of the project, calling it “the biggest event” by the time it airs. In preparation for the show, over 32,000 children have auditioned for key roles, vying for the chance to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
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