John Lithgow is speaking out — again — about the backlash against his choice to play Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
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Of course, you know that the series itself has become fairly controversial due to the involvement of Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, who has spent the majority of her post-Harry Potter career spending time — and money — essentially pushing back against the mere notion of trans rights.
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Shortly after John was cast as Albus Dumbledore, the legendary actor gave an interview to the Sunday Times where he essentially claimed ignorance as to any objection against his decision to take on the role.
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In the interview, John revealed that he'd recently received a text from "a very good friend who is the mother of a trans child" that included a link to an open letter directed to him urging that he "walk away" from the role. "That was the canary in the coal mine," he said.
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“I thought, 'Why is this a factor at all?'" he said regarding the backlash. "I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her, and I’m curious to talk to her." When he was asked if the backlash has spoiled his casting for him, John replied, "Oh, heavens no."
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Suffice to say, in the nine-plus months since John's initial comments, the overall backlash against the show hasn't died down much at all. So it's not surprising that, during a recent appearance at the Rotterdam Film Festival (via Variety), John was asked how he feels regarding the backlash as well as J.K.'s views on trans rights.
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“I take the subject extremely seriously," he said. "She has created this amazing canon for young people and it has jumped into the consciousness of the society. It’s about good versus evil, kindness versus cruelty."
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John went on to say that he finds J.K.'s views "ironic and inexplicable. I’ve never met her, she’s not really involved in this production at all. But the people who are, are remarkable.”
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“It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in Potter canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She’s written this mediation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.”
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“It was a hard decision," John went on to say. "It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.” Ironically, it was an audience member who reportedly walked away from the event during John's comments, allegedly saying “Things like these don’t help" as they departed.
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“I’m perfectly ready for collisions of opinion," he said in response. "I understand it.”