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John Lithgow Reveals He'll Play Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter TV Series

by Jacob Mar 19,2025

HBO's highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series has reportedly secured its first major casting: the legendary John Lithgow as Professor Dumbledore. While not yet officially confirmed by HBO or Warner Bros., Lithgow himself confirmed his involvement in an interview with ScreenRant. He described the role as a significant undertaking, stating it will "define the last chapter" of his career, even noting his age at the anticipated wrap party.

This exciting news marks the first official casting announcement for the upcoming series, which aims to reimagine J.K. Rowling's beloved novels for television with a completely new cast. Rowling will serve as executive producer alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts. The lack of further casting announcements suggests the series is still in the early stages of development.

Lithgow, a veteran actor with an extensive and acclaimed career spanning film and television, is perhaps best known for his role in 3rd Rock from the Sun. He also garnered critical praise and an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Netflix's The Crown.