Is John Lithgow British? Actor's nationality explored as Harry Potter TV reboot casting gets confirmed

Attention Potterheads! HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot has exciting casting news for the iconic character— Albus Dumbledore. In an interview with ScreenRant, John Lithgow confirmed that he would be playing the role of Dumbledore.

While Litgow's talent is widely celebrated, one question remains— Is the actor British? The confusion stems from his portrayal of several British characters throughout his career. Similarly, Dumbledore's role was previously played by British and Irish actors Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, and Jude Law.

However, the 79-year-old actor is not British but American, making him the first non-British actor to play Hogwarts' Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.

Speaking with Collider, Lithgow opened up about playing the English character of Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. He said,

" He's certainly an Englishman. In fact, there's a good deal of controversy that an American has been hired to play him. He's such an icon. "

Lithgow jokingly said he is "half-English", However, the American veteran actor seemed quite confident in playing Dumbledore, citing examples of his roles in The Crown and Giant. He also mentioned that he might take lessons from a dialect coach to perfect the role. He continued,

"I mean Dumbledore couldn't be possibly anything else other than English. I was welcomed by every English actor I worked with on Crown. They had far more confidence in me and my Englishness than I had in myself"

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Exploring Jon Lithgow's nationality: HBO's Harry Potter

John Lithgow was born on October 19, 1945, in Rochester, New York, and was raised in Ohio. A bright student from his childhood, he completed his education at Princeton High School and Havard College. Later, he was offered a Fulbright scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Lithgow's ability to excel in British roles, especially the Irish/British accent, often leads viewers to believe that he is British, even though he was born and raised in America. Lithgow has been a part of several notable projects, including Conclave, The Crown, and Giant. Lithgow has won several awards, including six Emmys, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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John Litgrow on playing Dumbledore

In an interview with ScreenRant, John Lithgow officially confirmed his role as Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series. While he did not reveal exact details about his role, he admitted that accepting such an iconic character was a difficult decision.

Lithgow mentioned that he received the call for the role while at the Sundance Film Festival. He expressed both excitement and nervousness, acknowledging that this might be one of the defining roles of his lifetime. The Emmy-winning veteran actor said,

"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-up party, but I've said yes."

With this, John Lithgow becomes the first actor to publicly confirm his involvement in the series. However, HBO has not officially disclosed any casting information. Apart from Lithgow, the rest of the Harry Potter cast remains a mystery.

There has been a casting call for the iconic roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Jean Granger. Around 32,000 children have auditioned for these roles. To be eligible, applicants must be residents of the UK or Ireland and fall within the age range of 9-11.

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About HBO's Harry Potter TV series

HBO’s Harry Potter series is set to take the wizarding world to new heights. With each season dedicated to one book, viewers can expect a deeper dive into the magical world of Hogwarts. Production is set to begin in the summer of 2025 at Leavesden Studios. Potterheads can expect the first season to air in 2026 or 2027.

Even though the full casting details are yet to be revealed, HBO has confirmed the showrunner and director for the series. Francesca Gardiner has been selected as the showrunner, while Mark Mylod will be directing the much-awaited TV series.

Read More: 10 Times Harry Potter took inspiration from The Lord of The Rings

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