The name of the actor who claims to play Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series has been announced: who is John Lithgow

Hollywood actor John Lithgow is in final negotiations to play Professor Albus Dumbledore in a new Harry Potter series being developed by HBO. The information was confirmed by Variety, citing sources, but studio representatives refrain from commenting.

"We understand that such a large-scale series will cause a lot of rumors and speculation. Because we are in pre-production, we will only confirm details once deals are finalized," HBO said in a statement to Variety.

If the deal is signed, Lithgow will be the first actor to be cast in the new adaptation of the legendary Harry Potter story. He may be joined by British actor Paapa Essiedu, who is being considered for the role of Professor Severus Snape.

Professor Albus Dumbledore is one of the key characters in the franchise. He is a powerful wizard, the headmaster of Hogwarts School, and the leader of the Order of the Phoenix, which fights against Lord Voldemort.

Who is John Lithgow?

John Lithgow is an American actor whose career spans more than five decades in film, theater, and television. He made his film debut in 1972 and gained international recognition in the 1980s for his roles in The World According to Garp and The Language of Tenderness, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a Saturn Award for his role in The Twilight Zone.

On television, Lithgow became a cult figure thanks to the comedy series Third Planet from the Sun, for which he won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. His role as serial killer Arthur Mitchell in Dexter earned him another Emmy Award, and in the historical series The Crown he portrayed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

What is known about the new Harry Potter series

HBO is working on a series that will be a new"faithful adaptation" of J.K. Rowling's books. The project was first announced in 2023, and the filming process is scheduled to begin in 2025.

The project is headed by showrunner Francesca Gardiner (The Heirs, The Foundation) and director Mark Milod (Game of Thrones, The Heirs). The series will run for ten years and will be filmed at Warner Bros. studio, where the original films were created. It is expected to premiere in late 2026 or early 2027, Deadline reports.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that HBO was negotiating with a candidate for the role of Professor Severus Snape. The creators of the series see British black actor Papa Essied as the best candidate to play the mysterious wizard on the screen.

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