For a while now, we've known that HBO was planning to make a TV series based on the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, already famously adapted as a series of eight movies released between 2001 and 2011. The idea is to include details from the books the movies left out, and also to milk a franchise that still has a lot of fans out there.
HBO has been casting the project for a while, and today we have our first confirmation: the role of Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will be played by John Lithgow. He confirmed as much while speaking with Screenrant:
"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. 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."
We've been hearing rumors about casting for a while — Cillian Murphy could play Professor Quirrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge could play Petunia Dursley, Brett Goldstein could play Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu could play Snape, etc — but this is the first time we've heard something official.
John Lithgow proves that the new Harry Potter series doesn't have a "British-only" rule
John Lithgow is a great actor. He's been nominated for multiple Oscars, he's currently starring in the Oscar-nominated drama Conclave, he won an Emmy for playing Winston Churchill on The Crown...his list of accolades and accomplishments is long. I'm sure he could do a fine job as Dumbledore.
That said, it's a little weird seeing an American actor land this role, since the movies had a strict "British-only" policy when it came to casting; they even turned away Robin Williams, who lobbied for a part. Obviously, that rule is no more. If John Lithgow can play a role as important as Dumbledore, the floodgates are open.
We'll probably hear more about other castings soon, possibly even for the all-important roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Rumor has it that HBO has already found three young actors to play the central trio of the series, but obviously they're not household names...yet. Being in a Harry Potter TV show just might change that, especially if the producers are able to follow through on their plan to adapt one book per season.
As for a release date, don't expect the Harry Potter show to debut on HBO and Max any earlier than 2026, and quite possibly after that.
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