First actor cast in Harry Potter series: who will play Dumbledore

The upcoming HBO Harry Potter series is currently surrounded by a lot of rumors and speculation, while there is very little confirmed information. And now journalists have managed to find out the name of the first actor who will play one of the key roles in the show.

Screen Rant has revealed who will play the headmaster of the school of magic, Professor Albus Dumbledore. Rumors that HBO is negotiating the role with John Lithgow have been circulating for quite some time. And now the actor, known for his role of Winston Churchill in the Netflix series The Crown, has confirmed that he has signed a contract with the studio.

"Well, it came as a surprise to me. I just got a call from the Sundance Film Festival about another movie, and it was a difficult decision because I'm afraid it will define me for the last chapter of my life. But I am very excited. Some wonderful people are paying attention to Harry Potter again," said Lithgow.

He also admitted that he was worried about his age, so the decision to accept the role of Dumbledore was not easy for him. Lithgow is now 79 years old, but he continues to act actively. "I'll be about 87 at the wrap party, but I said yes," the actor told the publication.

Lithgow's words make him the first actor to be officially confirmed as a part of the Harry Potter series. Journalists speculate that he could have disclosed this information against the wishes of the studio, which prefers to keep as much information as possible secret.

Perhaps the only thing that is known for sure is the start date of filming. It is expected to start this summer at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK. And the first season of the series is expected in 2026 or early 2027.

It is assumed that Lithgow's confession may encourage other actors to talk about their participation in the Harry Potter series. What we shouldn't expect in the near future is the disclosure of the names of the children who will play the three main characters - Harry Potter himself, as well as his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

It should be noted that in the Harry Potter series, the authors had to change the actor who played Dumbledore. The first character was played by Richard Harris. He accepted the role despite being diagnosed with cancer. After filming the second part, the actor died and was replaced by Michael Gambon, who brought the franchise to a close. In the films of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, Jude Law played the role of young Dumbledore.

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