John Lithgow to Play Dumbledore in HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot: “It Won’t Be That Hard”

The 79-year-old actor joins the magical universe as the wise Hogwarts headmaster, revealing he’s still reading the books and isn’t fazed by the iconic role.

Washington [US], March 25:
Veteran actor John Lithgow has been officially cast as Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot, and while many might feel the pressure of stepping into such an iconic role, the 79-year-old remains calm—and even a bit casual—about it.

In a recent conversation on the SmartLess podcast with hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, Lithgow admitted he’s only now catching up with the series.

“I’m behind everybody. I’m halfway through the second book,” he said, referencing J.K. Rowling’s beloved fantasy series.

The upcoming HBO Max adaptation, announced in April 2023, aims to offer a faithful, decade-long series where each season will cover one book in the original seven-part saga. Lithgow explained:

“The overall concept of this entire reboot of Harry Potter is an entire season is devoted to a single novel.”

Though production is expected to begin this summer, Lithgow said he isn’t sure yet how demanding the filming schedule will be.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be in London,” he said. “For The Crown, I was there for eight months and barely came back. I think this time I’ll be able to come back more.”

As for portraying the beloved Hogwarts headmaster, Lithgow shared his thoughts on Dumbledore’s role in the storyline:

“He’s kind of the nuclear weapon. He only shows up occasionally. I don’t think it’s going to be that hard a job.”

While Lithgow is the first official casting confirmation, there are reports that Paapa Essiedu is in discussions to play Severus Snape, the role famously portrayed by the late Alan Rickman in the original films.

As anticipation builds for HBO’s fresh take on the wizarding world, Lithgow’s entry into the franchise is sure to draw attention—and plenty of curiosity about how he’ll bring a new dimension to one of literature’s most iconic characters.