John Lithgow Says “Yes” to Dumbledore; Will HBO Seal the Deal?

Known for his work on “3rd Rock from the Sun,” actor John Lithgow has officially agreed to take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s “Harry Potter” series, but the deal is still up in the air. According to ScreenRant, Lithgow admitted, “it came as a total surprise to me… it was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid.” 

He went on to explain his feelings saying, “I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter.” going on to note the commitment the role demands, “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.”

A New Dumbledore in the Wizarding World

Lithgow’s agreement has stirred excitement, especially since it’s the first big casting announcement for the series. Fans are already buzzing about what this means for the show’s direction, especially with the challenge of following in the footsteps of two iconic Dumbledores. Richard Harris and Michael Gambon set such high standards for the role, and now someone else has to step in and make the character their own. The biggest concerns from fans seem to be about his age, with one saying this:

Lithgow, though, has an impressive resume that suggests he could pull it off. His role as Winston Churchill in “The Crown” showed his ability to take on complex, larger-than-life characters, and Dumbledore certainly fits that description.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Lithgow is American, and Dumbledore is British through and through. Some fans might raise an eyebrow at this casting choice, wondering how the role will translate with a non-British actor. One fan even joked that “they ran out of British actors,” in the Reddit comment below.

But if anyone can pull it off, it’s Lithgow. His acting chops are undeniable, and he’s shown time and time again that he can take on any role, regardless of accent or nationality.

A Long Road Ahead for the Show

Even though Lithgow has verbally agreed to play Dumbledore, HBO has made it clear that nothing is finalized yet saying, “we appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals,” per ScreenRant. So, the casting announcement is still hanging in limbo, which only fuels the anticipation surrounding the show.

Filming is supposed to kick off in the summer of 2025, but that’s still a ways off. With other major roles (i.e. Golden Trio: Harry, Ron, and Hermione) still up in the air, fans are left wondering who else might join Lithgow in this new magical chapter. While the lack of news is keeping us all on the edge of our seats, it’s only adding to the excitement. The “Harry Potter” series is set to debut in late 2026 or early 2027, per Deadline, so there’s plenty of time for more announcements to roll in. But for now, Lithgow’s “yes” is as close as we’ve come to anything concrete and it’s enough to get the fanbase buzzing.

Could Lithgow’s Dumbledore live up to the legacy of Harris and Gambon? Or would he bring something entirely new to the table? Fans are eager to see how it all unfolds, but for now, we can only wait and hope that this is the start of something magical. What do you think? Are you on board with this possible casting choice?