John Lithgow reveals his feelings about playing Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter series

Just two days after some of the cast members of HBO's Harry Potter series were announced, John Lithgow was interviewed by the BBC. The actor who is going to play Hogwarts Professor Albus Dumbledore, along with his Giant co-star Aya Cash, appeared on an interview on BBC’s “The One Show” on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

In that interview, Lithgow discussed playing the fan-favorite British wizard Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO series. The first season, which is set to begin filming this summer, will adapt the first book of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The interviewer specifically asked the Dexter actor how he was feeling about playing Dumbledore in the HBO series. The actor responded:

“Very excited. Very intimidated.”

What do the Harry Potter actor's recent comments mean?

John Lithgow's sentiments are understandable because he is following not one but two British stalwarts and one acclaimed actor who played Dumbledore on the big screen. The first actor to play the beloved fictional headmaster was Richard Harris, who appeared as Dumbledore in the first two movies of the franchise, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

But Harris's passing in 2002 meant that the role got recast. Thus, Sir Michael Gambon took over as Dumbledore from the third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a role he continued to play until the conclusion of the film franchise in 2011. Then, Jude Law played young Dumbledore in the spin-off movies. Therefore, Lithgow has some major shoes to fill in the upcoming HBO series.

But we shouldn't take Lithgow's mixture of feeling intimidation and excitement as fear. Rather, it probably means that the American actor is aware of the legendary shoes he is going to fill in the Harry Potter show. He seems to suggest the same in this BBC interview:

“I will be following the great Michael Gambon. I’m not an Englishman, although I’ve played one on TV. I remind everyone that I did play Winston Churchill on ‘The Crown’ and did just fine."

The actor further continued:

“But yes, I mean, it’s an enormous thrill. But I know there were plenty of people appalled that an American should be hired to play the ultimate English wizard. But, I will do my best.”

Who will be joining John Lithgow in the HBO Harry Potter show?

On Monday, April 14, 2025, WB officially confirmed six actors for the upcoming Harry Potter series that will be based on the first book, Philosopher's Stone. As of now, we know the adult actors playing the Hogwarts professors. Here are the actors that we know will be playing a part in the series:

1. John Lithgow will be playing Albus Dumbledore
2. Paapa Essiedu will be playing Severus Snape
3. Janet McTeer will be playing Minerva McGonagall
4. Nick Frost will be playing Rubeus Hagrid
5. Paul Whitehouse will be playing Argus Filch
6. Luke Thallon will be playing Quirinus Quirrell

Francesca Gardiner, the showrunner of the HBO Harry Potter show, and EP and director Mark Mylod released this statement confirming the casting of the adult actors:

“We are happy to announce the casting of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse to play Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Quirrell and Filch. We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.”

As of now, we don't know who is playing the main trio of the series, or even other students, for that matter.

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Filming hasn't begun yet, and thus we don't have a release date for the show. Until then, all eight iconic Harry Potter movies are available to stream on Max.

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