John Lithgow Reveals Secrets About His Dumbledore Role in Harry Potter TV Series!

John Lithgow solemnly swears he’s up to no good.

About a month after the former student from Crown publicly announced that he would be playing Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series, the 79-year-old shared some insights about his time at Hogwarts.

In the March 24th episode of the SmartLess podcast, Lithgow clarified that the whole idea behind this new Harry Potter revival is that an entire season will be dedicated to a single book.

Although a format has been established, it’s yet undecided when the series will air due to ongoing scheduling discussions. He’s unsure about the duration of the production, which aims to adapt all seven books in the J.K. Rowling series, within the United Kingdom.

He went on to say, “To be completely honest, I’m not sure myself. My stay in England for ‘The Crown’ lasted eight months and I didn’t return to the U.S. all that often – possibly just once or twice. But I hope I’ll have the opportunity to come back more frequently.

After all, Lithgow doesn’t think Dumbledore will appear very often in the show.

As an ardent admirer, let me say, Dumbledore is like a powerful, rarely-used weapon. I don’t foresee any significant challenges when he steps in, and we can expect an exchange of ideas back and forth.

As for his personal preparation, he admitted that he lags behind everyone else in terms of knowledge about the book series, and right now, he’s halfway through the second novel.

Before committing to act in a TV series that would re-envision the world where Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint once starred, the actor who played Conclave admitted he initially harbored some reservations.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Lithgow expressed that making this decision was not straightforward due to its significant impact on the final phase of his career. However, he also shared his enthusiasm about it.

He went on to say, “There’s a resurgence of interest in Harry Potter, which has made my decision quite challenging. By the time we finish filming, I’ll be nearly 87 years old, but I’ve agreed to take part.

Read on to see what the cast of the original Harry Potter films is up to today.

As a follower dedicated to my craft, I am eternally grateful for the transformative role that opened countless opportunities for me. Yet, I’ve been diligently working to shed any vestiges of child stardom from my acting persona. My journey began with my daring Broadway debut in Equus back in 2007, a role that demanded raw vulnerability and even a touch of nudity. I followed this with the more cheerful How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 2011. Over the years, I’ve found myself oscillating between the stage (The Cripple of Inishmaan, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) and the silver screen (The Woman in Black, Victor Frankenstein). I’ve been particularly drawn to dramatic roles or those that veer into the absurd.

Without a doubt, if there’s a hint of dark comedy, Daniel Radcliffe is game for it. He has shown this versatility in various roles, such as portraying a morphine-dependent physician on TV in “A Young Doctor’s Notebook,” a low-level angel attempting to prevent the end of the world in “Miracle Workers,” and a flatulent corpse in the 2016 film “Swiss Army Man.” More recently, he starred as the villain opposite Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in the 2022 romantic comedy “The Lost City,” and played the role of musician “Weird Al” Yankovic in the biographical parody film “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

Ever since 2010, I’ve been a teetotaler, just like Daniel Radcliffe himself. Back when the Harry Potter saga was wrapping up, he admitted to struggling with excessive drinking, all while being more famous than he ever dared to dream. With his next life chapter looming, he was understandably anxious about the road ahead.

In his words during an interview on Off Camera With Sam Jones in 2019, he mentioned that the most effective method for him to disregard the feeling of being observed is by getting extremely intoxicated.

As I find myself becoming increasingly intoxicated, I can’t help but notice a heightened level of attention. It strikes me, ‘Ah, it seems people are paying closer attention now as I get more drunk. I guess I might as well drink some more to drown out this awareness.’

Radcliffe has been dating actress Erin Darke ever since they worked together on the set of the 2013 movie “Kill Your Darlings,” where he portrayed the role of poet Alan Ginsberg.

As a Parisian-born child raised in the tranquil landscapes of Oxfordshire, I had only a handful of school plays to my name when I was given the opportunity to embody Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series – my very first professional acting role. Upon wrapping up the seven magical films, I found myself balancing my time between my studies at Brown University (graduating in 2014 with a degree in English Literature) and diving into independent film projects such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Bling Ring”. In the latter production, I shed my rule-abiding Hermione persona to portray one of a group of privileged yet misfitting young thieves who embarked on a spree of stealing from celebrity homes.

Emma Watson, who graced runways for Burberry and Lancôme, starred as Belle in the successful 2017 live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, and portrayed Meg, the conservative eldest March sister, in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women in 2019. She has also taken on an activist role, championing gender equality as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador since 2014. This includes launching the HeForShe campaign and continuing to be a vocal proponent for equal opportunities in the film industry and beyond.

Previously, she dated Will Adamowicz, Matthew Janney, William “Mack” Knight, and Leo Robinson. However, these days, she’s contentedly in a relationship with Brandon Green. In May 2021, Watson responded to rumors about her retirement from acting, tweeting, “Speculations about whether my career is ‘inactive or not’ are tactics to generate headlines every time they are found out to be either true or false.

It seemed like the woman with red hair from Essex suddenly emerged, prepared to take on the role of Harry’s best friend, Ron Weasley. Grint, who received his first significant recognition after the Potter series, being part of the Olympic Torch relay before the 2012 London Olympics – an experience he described as “amazing” and said he would always treasure – has predominantly acted in British productions. He is best known for his roles in BBC One’s adaptation of the Agatha Christie mystery, The ABC Murders, and the dark comedy Sick Note on Sky One, where he played a character whose life improves after receiving a false cancer diagnosis but decides to keep up the act. Lindsay Lohan was one of his co-stars in these projects. His filmography includes CBGB, focusing on the iconic punk-rock club in New York, and the French comedy Moonwalkers. Currently, he stars in M. Night Shyamalan’s supernatural mystery series, Servant, which returned for a second season, and appeared in his horror film, Knock at the Cabin.

Since I landed the role of Ron, my life underwent a significant transformation,” Grint expressed to Radio Times in 2018. “It was an unusual period, and it took me quite some time to fully grasp it. Occasionally, even being unnoticed can be challenging. At times, all I yearn for is a visit to B&Q.

Additionally, he expressed, “Following Potter, I found myself uncertain about my future plans. I felt as though I had missed out on everyday experiences. Many of my school friends and I grew apart. Desiring a sense of normalcy once more, I decided to take some time off. While I’ve never been overly ambitious, there has always been a part of me that yearns to prove myself after Potter. However, I am inherently insecure as well.

Whatever he was doing during the audition impressed Shyamalan. He explained to EW.com that Grint transformed before his eyes, “I hardly recognize the child actor he once was. It’s incredible, perhaps unparalleled in my experience, the way he reinvented himself as an adult actor.

Back in May 2020, I was beyond thrilled to become a dad for the very first time! My precious little girl, Wednesday G. Grint, entered our world, along with my loving partner Georgia Groome by my side. It’s an indescribable feeling – pure joy and love that fills every corner of my heart.

There’s no denying that the man who once portrayed the bashful character Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter has become a popular topic for discussion, particularly concerning his transformation into a handsome adult. The buzz about Lewis’ maturity has spread far and wide.

Lewis has predominantly worked on stage and screen in England, his homeland. Notable projects include the BBC One miniseries “The Syndicate”, the emotional drama “Me Before You” from 2016, and the 2018 revenge thriller “Terminal” alongside Margot Robbie. In 2015, he expressed delight playing a soldier in the BBC Three dramedy “Bluestone 42”, a series that revolves around a bomb disposal squad stationed in Afghanistan.

Lewis shared with RadioTimes.com that Potter was an extraordinary and distinct experience he was fortunate to be a part of, but nothing compares to the level of involvement and pride he feels for Bluestone 42. He’s thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it, more than any other acting role in his career.

In January 2020, on the Mantality podcast, he mentioned that he had been filming the updated version of All Creatures Great and Small for Channel 5. This show is a modern take on the classic BBC program, which originally ran from 1978 to 1990 and was based on James Herriot’s books. Although some people might not recognize the title, Lewis noted that it held significant status in Britain (and it has since been shown on Masterpiece on PBS).

He’s a private individual, yet it’s been established that he tied the knot with Angela Jones back in 2018 and visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter World, their first meeting place, in October 2019. They reside in Florida, which is where Jones hails from.

In reality, the villainous Draco Malfoy, who won two MTV Movie Awards for Best Villain, was actually a golden-hearted individual with platinum hair. During the summer of 2011, he appeared in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, but since then, he has been featured in films with less reliance on CGI, including the period pieces “Belle” and “A United Kingdom”.

In 2016, he left fans in awe when he appeared as Julian “Dr. Alchemy” Albert on the CW’s The Flash. Previously, Felton acted in the YouTube Premium sci-fi series Origin, the films Ophelia, Braking for Whales, and Burial, a World War II thriller. Besides being an accomplished actor, he is also a singer-songwriter with multiple EP releases to his name. His Instagram account, where he shares his love for cooking soup, playing guitar, spending time with his dog, and occasionally reuniting with Harry Potter cast members, creates one of the most cheerful corners on the internet.

For seven years prior to their split in 2016, Felton was romantically involved with Jade Olivia Gordon – who later became Draco Malfoy’s wife in a future scenario. In 2022, the actor published his memoir titled “Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard“, revealing personal struggles related to youthful fame, substance abuse, and clarifying aspects of his relationship with Emma Watson.

For a long time, I’ve harbored a quiet affection for Emma, but maybe not the kind of feelings you’d typically expect. It doesn’t mean that something special hasn’t occurred between us; it certainly has, just at various points in our relationship.

Although the sparks didn’t lead to romantic feelings, they continue to cherish each other as dear friends. As Felton put it, “I don’t believe I ever felt romantically about Emma, but there was an affection and respect for her as a person that I can’t express to anyone else.

The actress had just turned ten when she began portraying Ginny Weasley, evolving from “Ron’s younger sister” to Harry Potter’s romantic interest throughout the movies. In 2011, Wright received the Most Unconventional Style Award at the Rodial Beauty Awards and showcased her fashion debut during London Fashion Week.

In 2012, after graduating from London College of Communication, Wright established her own production company, BonBonLumière. Apart from acting in films like “After the Dark” and “Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg?”, this artist has also written, directed, and produced several short films, such as “Separate We Come, Separate We Go”, starring David Thewlis (Remus Lupin); “Know Thyself”, with Christian Coulson who portrayed Tom Riddle; and “Medusa’s Ankles” featuring Jason Isaacs, aka Lucius Malfoy. In 2021, Wright published her debut book titled “Go Gently”, providing readers with guidance on getting involved in the climate movement.

In 2019, Wright gathered together with Watson, Felton, Lewis, and Evanna Lynch for a heartwarming reunion which, fortunately, someone captured in a photograph. “Flashback,” Wright titled the image, underscoring the moment with a bolt of lightning.

Previously, she was betrothed to the actor Jamie Campbell Bower, famously known for his role as Sweeney Todd and young Gellert Grindelwald in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. However, their relationship ended in 2012. Following this, she spent several years with Simon Hammerstein before finding her current partner, Andrew Lococo, in 2020. The couple tied the knot in March 2022 and gave birth to their son Elio in September 2023.

It’s important to note that we’re not trying to minimize the unique qualities of Fred and George Weasley, or anything like that… However, it is a fact that these Hogwarts pranksters, who happen to be twins (with Oliver being 13 minutes older and having a mole on the right side of his neck), were portrayed by real-life twins in the Harry Potter films. They’ve gone on to play twin roles in other movies too, such as “Our Own Worst Enemy” and “Last Night in Soho,” directed by Edgar Wright. Interestingly, James, one of the twins, has pursued more acting opportunities independently.

A distinct difference between the two gentlemen is their marital status and family life. I am married to Katie Humpage since 2015, and we are blessed with two beautiful daughters. On the other hand, my colleague James tied the knot with Annika Ostle the following year.

The siblings continue to be inseparable, having once collaborated on a podcast named “Not So Ordinary” where they chatted with their former acting colleagues like Evanna Lynch, Katie Leung, and Alfred Enoch.

In the year 2024, the twins additionally took up the role of co-hosts for the baking competition show titled “Harry Potter: Magical Chefs.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the captivating journey of this British thespian. Kickstarting his career as Dean Thomas in the magical Hogwarts student troupe, he then graced English stages with numerous performances and made appearances in critically acclaimed series like Broadchurch and Sherlock. His star truly shone, however, during the four seasons of How to Get Away With Murder, where he brilliantly portrayed Wes – a well-meaning law student whose moral compass was eventually blurred and ultimately led him down a tragic path. Yet, even in the face of such heartbreak, he returned for a spellbinding cameo as—SPOILER ALERT—Wes’ son in the mind-bending final season of 2020. Since then, he has continued to captivate audiences with his role in Apple TV+’s Foundation and holds the distinguished title of being a graduate from The Queen’s College, Oxford.

Christopher Columbus was searching for a teenager aged 15 to 17 to portray the ghostly figure of 16-year-old Tom Marvolo Riddle in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” but it was the 23-year-old Coulson who ultimately landed the role. Since then, he has been active in film and television, gaining significant attention for his roles as Damien George on “Nashville,” Sebastian in the critically acclaimed Amazon Prime series “Mozart in the Jungle,” and Benjamin in the Hulu reboot of the novel-turned-movie “High Fidelity,” where Zoë Kravitz stars as the melancholic, list-making record store owner, now set in Brooklyn.

Following a tough competition against nearly 3,000 other contenders, the classically trained Scottish actress who portrayed Harry Potter’s love interest, Cho Chang during the Goblet of Fire era, has made a name for herself in theater and television in her homeland. She’s been seen in series like White Dragon and Chimerica, and more recently, on BBC One’s limited series The Nest. In films, she played the daughter of Jackie Chan’s character (who seeks revenge for his death in a terrorist bombing throughout the movie) in the 2017 action-thriller The Foreigner. At present, she stars in the Amazon Prime TV series The Peripheral, which was recently renewed for a second season. In an Instagram post from December 2022, Leung announced the birth of her first child, a son named Wolf.

Back in March 2021, Leung, a person with Chinese ancestry, spoke publicly about the hostile messages she encountered online following the announcement of her role.

In one instance, I found myself searching for my own information online and stumbled upon a website focused on Harry Potter fan culture. Upon reading through the comments, I was dismayed to discover an overwhelming amount of racially insensitive remarks. Moreover, someone had created a hate site where people could express their disagreement with the casting decision by clicking a button, which would then tally the number of dissenters. The situation was appalling and distressing, to say the least.

Wow, I wonder what became of the actor who portrayed the tragic heartthrob, Cedric Diggory, from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire“…

Indeed, you’re correct: Robert Pattinson secured the principal role in another popular Young Adult series, “The Twilight Saga,” which sparked both emotions and discussions worldwide. He portrayed the enigmatic vampire character, Edward Cullen, across five movies, and had a romantic connection with his co-star, Kristen Stewart, during the filming process.

Ever since then, he has excelled in acting, particularly in gritty roles within independent films such as “Maps to the Stars”, “Cosmopolis”, “The Rover”, “Good Time”, and “The Lighthouse”. However, he stepped back into high-budget blockbusters when he assumed the role of the well-known DC superhero, donning the iconic cape and scowl in 2022’s “The Batman”.

Earlier, Robert Pattinson was betrothed to FKA twigs. However, since 2018, he has been in a relationship with model and actress Suki Waterhouse and got engaged by December 2023. Their first child arrived in March 2024.

From the esteemed Beauxbatons Academy in France, the tall and elegant Fleur Delacour was selected to represent her school in the Triwizard Tournament. Later on, she married Bill Weasley, Ron Weasley’s stylish older brother.

Since then, Poésy has consistently worked in film and television, with notable roles such as Gossip Girl, In Bruges, The Tunnel (both English and French versions), Genius: Picasso on the National Geographic Channel, Christopher Nolan’s film Tenet opposite her previous Triwizard Tournament competitor Robert Pattinson, and the Apple TV+ series The Essex Serpent. Upcoming projects for the French actress include The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, a highly anticipated spinoff focusing on Norman Reedus’ beloved character, Daryl Dixon, from the zombie franchise.

Poésy has a son, Liam, who was born in 2017, and welcomed a second child in 2019.

She shared with The Guardian that her thoughts today revealed a deeper connection she feels towards women; a connection that seems to span through the centuries. Reflecting on the historical medical aspect of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood stirs much contemplation within her. This experience has only intensified her admiration for women.

The ethereal actress shone brilliantly in her role as the quirky yet valiant Luna Lovegood, first appearing in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. However, she confessed that finding acting jobs became challenging after becoming a part of the legendary Harry Potter series.

In 2019, Lynch shared with Bustle that it felt strange because we were receiving so much fan mail and attention, but in reality, this wasn’t mirrored. It was challenging for me. I believe for a while, I yearned for the validation that came from being part of a massive film series, where everything you did was appreciated and praised excessively.

Ever since I embraced veganism back in 2015, I’ve been passionately committed to this lifestyle. In 2018, I took the plunge and launched Kinder Beauty Box, a line dedicated to clean, cruelty-free cosmetics. I also teamed up with Dr. Melanie Joy as co-host for our podcast, Just Beings. The dance floor became my stage in 2018 when I placed third on Dancing With the Stars, and last year saw the release of my debut book, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting.

She shared with Bustle that she maintains a particularly strong relationship with Katie Leung (Pansy Parkington) and Scarlett Byrne – they were intending to attend a New Year’s Eve party together to welcome 2020. Additionally, Lynch often sees her fellow cast members at conventions. “I believe we’ve become closer since the films,” she stated. “This is mainly because we’re all grown up now and can relate as adults. For instance, I recently spent time with the Phelps twins (James and Oliver) this past weekend, whom I didn’t interact much with on set when I was 14 and they were 18 or 19. However, as adults, that age gap doesn’t seem so significant anymore.

In his post-Slytherin years, Draco’s associate Goyle has cleaned up his image. Most notably, he has been seen in the British crime drama “Marcella” alongside Anna Friel, the 2018 reboot of “Robin Hood”, the crime miniseries “Murder at White House Farm”, the spy drama “Alex Rider”, and more recently, had a minor role in Disney+’s “Andor”. Additionally, Goyle started his MMA career in 2016, but has also appeared in a small role on Disney+.

Herdman is also dad to a son, Morgan, with longtime partner Jessica Worth.

Similar to many Harry Potter antagonists, Dudley Dursley was quite amiable in everyday life. During the film series, Melling underwent a workout routine that transformed his physique so dramatically he nearly had to be recast for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. However, he continued portraying Harry’s chunky, spoiled cousin by using prosthetics. Although he looks quite different now, Melling has maintained a steady career in theater and film, appearing in movies like The Lost City of Z, the Coen brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and the HBO show His Dark Materials.

Lately, I had the pleasure of collaborating once more with Joel Coen in his adaptation of Macbeth titled “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” In this production, Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand portrayed the ruthlessly ambitious leading couple. Additionally, I played Harry Beltik in the popular Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit,” and shared the screen with Charlize Theron in the action movie “The Old Guard” from the streaming giant. Last year, my performance as a young Edgar Allan Poe in “The Pale Blue Eye” garnered praise from critics.

2025-03-25 00:50

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