HBO's highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series is gaining momentum, with the first major casting announcement: the legendary John Lithgow will portray the iconic Professor Dumbledore. This news comes after a period of extensive casting searches by HBO.
In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Lithgow confirmed his acceptance of the role, describing it as a pivotal moment in his career. He stated, “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. 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.”
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While this marks the first official casting announcement, it's important to note that HBO and Warner Bros. haven't yet formally confirmed Lithgow's involvement. The series plans to adapt all of J.K. Rowling's books for television, featuring a completely new cast portraying beloved characters like Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, among others. Rowling will serve as an executive producer alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.
Despite Lithgow's enthusiastic confirmation, the lack of a complete cast suggests the show is still in the early stages of development and some time away from production. Lithgow, a highly acclaimed actor with a long and distinguished career in film and television, is perhaps best known for his role as Dick Solomon in *3rd Rock from the Sun* and his Emmy-winning portrayal of Winston Churchill in Netflix's *The Crown*.
