John Lithgow will be the next Dumbledore
"I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes," said the actor, who will take on the beloved role for HBO's Harry Potter series
Albus Dumbledore’s half-moon spectacles will be handed down to none other than John Lithgow.
The six-time Emmy winner confirmed the news to ScreenRant, saying he would be taking on the role for HBO‘s Harry Potter television series. Richard Harris and Michael Gambon previously played the beloved Hogwarts headmaster in the Harry Potter film franchise based on J. K. Rowling’s best-selling book series of all time.
“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,” Lithgow told the outlet.
The actor added, “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.”
The Harry Potter series entered the development phase in 2021 with plans to depict all seven books. The project was green-lit by the studio last year, and it was revealed the show would be released over the course of 10 years, from 2026 through 2036. Rowling will serve as executive producer.
HBO has billed its upcoming show as “a faithful adaptation” that “will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters ‘Harry Potter’ fans have loved for over twenty-five years.”
Lithgow is the first star — and Gryffindor — to be confirmed for the highly anticipated series.