John Lithgow confirms playing Dumbledore in Harry Potter series: I'm afraid

John Lithgow, known for roles in Dexter and The Crown, will portray Professor Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series. He shared his excitement about this iconic role, admitting that he was also afraid before taking it up.

In Short

• John Lithgow confirmed his role as Professor Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter series
• He expressed surprise and excitement about the opportunity
• The actor acknowledged the role's potential impact on his career's final chapter

Actor John Lithgow, who played Arthur Mitchell in the 2009 drama Dexter and Winston Churchill in the Netflix drama The Crown, has confirmed his role as Professor Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter series. The actor shared his excitement over the part, admitting that he was also afraid before giving his nod.

In an interview with Screen Rant, John Lithgow confirmed that he will play Professor Dumbledore, one of the biggest wizards and the headmaster of Hogwarts, in the Harry Potter serieswhich will be aired on HBO.

He said, "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."

Rumours of Lithgow being approached to play Dumbledore have been doing the rounds for some time. Now, it remains to be seen who will play the trio - Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

For those unfamiliar, Albus Dumbledore serves as the headmaster of Hogwarts and is a highly respected figure in the world of magic. He is also regarded as a mentor and father figure to Harry Potter. The character was originally portrayed by Richard Harris, followed by Michael Gambon. In the Fantastic Beasts films, a younger version of Dumbledore was brought to life by British actor Jude Law.

The series is expected to go on floors this summer and will be aired in 2026.