The Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling is the biggest and most profitable in the long history of film adaptations of books, so naturally, there has been much buzz around the upcoming TV series being produced by HBO. While the eight-film series is much beloved by Potterphiles, allowing one season per book will allow deeper exploration of plot threads that had to be trimmed in the previous adaptation. The casting for this series will define the careers and legacy of numerous actors, and the first major role has been announced. In an exclusive granted to ScreenRant, veteran actor John Lithgow confirmed that he will portray Albus Dumbledore, the enigmatic head master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
This announcement produced a naturally wide range of reactions, and plenty of social media posts objected to Lithgow’s casting. Here are the three most common objections to this decision, and why they are (mostly) wrong.
1. “This show shouldn’t be happening because I object to J.K. Rowling’s political views.”
J.K. Rowling has pulled no punches in her support for the rights of women and their access to female-only spaces, something that is protected by law in the United Kingdom. Because of this, many transgender rights activists have gone sour on Rowling and her literary creations. However, HBO has been clear that they are fully behind this production, having noted that Rowling’s personal views have had no effect on the Potter franchise’s profitability.
In 2023, trans activists launched an attempted cancellation of the video game Hogwarts Legacy, an action role-playing game based on Rowling’s book series. The game was a critical and financial success. While, of course, anyone is free to express whatever feelings they have about J.K. Rowling, her writing, and any adaptations based on her writing, it’s clear that anyone who wishes to boycott the show for ideological reasons is very much in the minority. This show is in production and will happen, so it’s moot to object to any casting choices from here on these grounds.
2. “John Lithgow isn’t English.”
I’ve got bad news for you. Neither of the actors who previously portrayed Dumbledore was. Both Richard Harris, who played the wizard in the first two Harry Potter films, and Michael Gambon, who took over after Harris’ death, were Irishmen. Granted, both actors moved to England and spent most of their working lives in Britain. Gambon even gained dual citizenship as a Brit. But neither one was English, and both were beloved for the personal twist that each put on their portrayals of Dumbledore.
John Lithgow in Third Rock from the Sun
While John Lithgow is American, he’s of British descent, with an expressive face and “twinkling” blue eyes often described by Rowling in her books. His Emmy-winning portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Crown proved him more than capable of portraying an iconic British character. While there has been a trend in recent years for some critics to insist that characters must only be portrayed by actors of the same background based on ethnicity, physical ability, or sexual orientation, most viewers still accept a performance based on whether or not an actor can do a good job in the role. Acting is, after all, pretending. So, anyone objecting to an American actor like Lithgow portraying an English character such as Dumbledore would do well to remember that none of the actors who have previously taken on the role were wizards, let alone Englishmen, and they did just fine.
3. “John Lithgow is too old to take on the role.”
This is the only objection that could possibly have any merit. By his own admission, Lithgow will be about 87 years old at the wrap party of the series, which will take the better part of a decade to film. Yes, it’s possible that an actor in his 80s might begin to struggle in his performance, and the worst possibility would be that Lithgow died before the series was finished. However, age itself shouldn’t be a disqualifying factor in a casting decision. Life is always uncertain, and Hollywood history is full of actors who died before they were finished with a film project, from James Dean to Marilyn Monroe to Brandon Lee to… Richard Harris, who died after playing Dumbledore in just two of the eight Harry Potter films. And yet Potter fans managed just fine when Michael Gambon took over the role.
Lithgow has had a steady and successful screen career for more than fifty years. He has the rare gift to be able to perform in any sort of role. He made viewers laugh themselves silly with zany comedic roles like Lord Farquaad in Shrek and Dick Solomon in Third Rock From the Sun. Then he was able to transform into a calculating, unnerving killer in Dexter, and then somehow manage to navigate the difficult territory between interpretation and caricature when playing Winston Churchill in The Crown. Dumbledore is a character that requires an actor with Lithgow’s level of skill and versatility, blending humor, irony, kindness, and inscrutability. It would be wrong to fail to take advantage of such a skilled performer merely because we cannot know what the next few years will bring.
Just Enjoy It
The announcement of John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s new Harry Potter series is an encouraging sign. It shows that the studio is serious about this production and that it is willing to do what it takes to bring in serious veteran actors for the adult roles. This will provide much-needed support and guidance to what will necessarily be a very young and inexperienced cast of actors in the children’s roles. An actor of Lithgow’s skill could particularly help guide whoever ends up in the role of Harry Potter, which would not only result in a better performance but also offer a nice parallel to the plot and characters of Rowling’s much-loved books.
