John Lithgow Almost Quit ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot Because of J.K. Rowling

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Starting in 2027, Warner Bros. is bringing the world of Harry Potter back to screens with a new television series – a fresh take on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books. The show is planned to run for seven seasons, with the first season covering the events of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Viewers will once again see Harry’s initial experiences at wizarding school and his first adventures with friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The series will feature a new generation of young actors – Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton – as the central trio, alongside a cast of well-known actors playing the adult wizards.

When the series was first being cast, it was announced that John Lithgow – famous for his work in Shrek and 3rd Rock from the Sun – would be playing Professor Albus Dumbledore. He’s taking on a role previously held by Richard Harris, Michael Gambon (in the original eight films), and Jude Law in the Fantastic Beasts movies. But according to recent reports, this casting decision was nearly different.

John Lithgow, known for his role in Harry Potter, recently told The New York Times he almost turned down the part of Albus Dumbledore. He ultimately decided to take the role because he believes the Harry Potter books strongly promote acceptance and oppose prejudice.

He also thought about his Jimpa costar, Aud Mason-Hyde, who is non-binary and had questioned his choice to take the role given J.K. Rowling’s public statements against transgender people. He realized this issue would likely be brought up in every interview he gave from now on. Although he was upset by the online reaction to his casting and troubled by Rowling’s views, he ultimately decided to stay with the show, even though he had considered leaving.


Warner Bros. Pictures

John Lithgow isn’t the only star from the Harry Potter films to publicly disagree with J.K. Rowling in recent years. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson – the three original lead actors – have all voiced their support for the trans community on multiple occasions. They acknowledged Rowling’s importance in launching their careers, but also made it clear they don’t share her views on this important issue.

The actor who now plays Dumbledore has repeatedly spoken about this over the past two years, emphasizing that the values expressed by J.K. Rowling aren’t reflected in the Harry Potter stories. He’s also shared that he felt “uncomfortable and unhappy” when some fans asked him to leave the role during the recent debates surrounding Rowling’s views.

It’s clear Lithgow aims to portray the positive side of humanity through his role, rather than dwelling on any potential downsides of the franchise. As Dumbledore is known for being one of the most kind and accepting characters in the Harry Potter world, Lithgow will have the chance to showcase that warmth with his fellow actors and viewers, highlighting the best qualities of this powerful wizard.

The new Harry Potter series is expected to debut on HBO Max sometime in 2027.

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2026-03-20 22:22