Whether you love the idea or hate it, HBO is bringing Harry Potter back to our screens with an all-new television show, aiming to adapt all seven novels. This series is here to stay for the long run, ushering in the Wizarding World for a new generation.
The adaptation will kick off in December with its first season, faithfully adapting the entire first novel, ‘The Philosopher’s Stone,’ across eight episodes. We already have a trailer, showing off our all-new cast including our trio of main stars: Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
The series has also added some heavyweight talent to its cast, such as big names Nick Frost (Hagrid) and John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore).
Of course, given the well-documented controversies surrounding author J.K. Rowling, notably her heavily gender-critical views, the big stars joining the series have come under some tough flack. But the cast have their opinions, and they’re not afraid to voice them.
For instance, Nick Frost was quick to speak out on the matter after being cast: "She's allowed her opinion, and I'm allowed mine, they just don't align in any way, shape or form,” he told The Observer. He added that he has since turned off comments on social media due to the backlash of accepting the role.
Most recently, John Lithgow weighed in on J.K. Rowlings viewers, telling The New Yorker (via Variety) that “much of it I think has been twisted and misrepresented.”
“[T]here was everything attractive about the job, and job security into my late years. You don’t ignore those issues,” he explained. “The whole subject of Rowling’s imputed prejudice, it came up after everything was already underway. I’d already said yes […] I was urged to walk away, and I was not about to do that.”
Lithgow inherently condemns much of Rowling’s comments and views. That said, he overall saw the gig as Dumbledore as a role too good to let slip. “The reasons to do it were much, much stronger than the reasons to protest against what Rowling has done and said,” he added. “I do disagree with much of it, much of it I think has been twisted and misrepresented, and she has doubled down on it at her own cost.”
Despite playing such a key role, Lithgow is yet to meet Rowling. Her influence was not key in him tackling the role. It was other crew members. “I have not met her,” he said. “The other positive on the ‘Harry Potter’ project is the people who have taken it on themselves. Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod have an extraordinary partnership. Francesca… she persuaded me, she’s the big reason I took it on.”
Harry Potter season 1 debuts on HBO Max on Christmas Day 2026.