Harry Potter series gets its first magician: whom the 79-year-old John Lithgow will play

Katerina Galushchenko News26.02.2025 13:22

John Lithgow, a 79-year-old Hollywood actor, has officially confirmed that he has been cast as Albus Dumbledore in the HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series. This makes him the first confirmed actor in the new project.

Earlier, it was reported that Lithgow was finishing negotiations, although the studio representatives refrained from commenting. Still, in a conversation with ScreenRant, the actor admitted that he had already agreed to the role.

Harry Potter series gets its first magician: whom the 79-year-old John Lithgow will play

"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," said John Lithgow.

HBO has not yet confirmed the signing of the contract, noting that the series is in pre-production phase and details will be revealed later. At the same time, the release is scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027, and filming is expected to start in the summer of 2025 at Warner Bros. in the UK.

Who is John Lithgow?

John Lithgow is a 79-year-old American actor known for his roles in film, theater and television. He has been nominated for an Oscar, has won four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. His iconic works include The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment. Lithgow became a cult figure on TV thanks to the comedy series 3rd Rock from the Sun.

What is known about the upcoming series

HBO announced the project in 2023 as a "faithful adaptation" of J.K. Rowling's books. The series is being developed by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod, both known for Succession (2018-2023).

Casting for the main roles is still ongoing. In particular, Paapa Essiedu may take up the role of Severus Snape. However, who will play Harry, Hermione and Ron remains a secret for now. It is also known that the series is expected to run for ten years.