Quote from Angela Waterfield on 8 March 2025, 11:01 AM

Veteran actor John Lithgow has confirmed that he will portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter television series.

Lithgow's casting marks a departure from the previous tradition of British actors in the role, as he is American. He expressed both excitement and apprehension about this new endeavor, noting that accepting the role was, "not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life."

​Lithgow 79, is versed in a variety of different productions styles, from film, (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 2005) and stage, (Giant which is a dramatization of author Roald Dahl's life).  However, he is best known for his award winning role as Dick Solomon in theTV sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001).

The Harry Potter series has seen several actors embody the iconic Hogwarts headmaster:​

• Richard Harris: Played Dumbledore in the first two films, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (2001) and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002).​
• Michael Gambon: Took over the role from the third film, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), through to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2" (2011).​
• Jude Law: Portrayed a younger Dumbledore in the prequel films "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" (2018) and "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" (2022).

The upcoming HBO series aims to provide a faithful adaptation, while keeping in mind creating a show that reflects today's audience, such as diversity and presenting the seven-book series, which has already been made in to a movies series,  in a new way. HBO has shared that each season of the show will be dedicated to one book, which may allow a deeper dive into the original material.

Filming is expected to start in the summer in the UK, with the series slated for release in late 2026 or early 2027.[adrotate banner="6"]