As Hogwarts awaits to reopen its gates, a beloved actor is poised to step into the shoes of an iconic character. Six-time Emmy winner John Lithgow (The Crown, Dexter) is reportedly in final talks to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming series adaptation of Harry Potter.
The news comes by way of Deadline, which includes a statement from the network: “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumour and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalise deals.”
If the deal goes through, the respected veteran will be the first name on the list, with Paapa Essiedu of I May Destroy You fame circling the role of potions professor Severus Snape. Casting for the main protagonist trio — Harry, Hermione, and Ron — is underway and will likely see newcomers taking over the reins.
In the original movie franchise, Dumbledore was portrayed by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon; Jude Law stepped into the character’s younger shoes in the Fantastic Beasts prequel films. Jared Harris, son of Richard, previously expressed his disinterest in revisiting the past, questioning the need for a reboot.
“No, thank you,” he said then. “I mean, why do it? I don’t understand. The films were fantastic — leave them alone.”
The show is described as “a faithful adaptation” that “will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years.” Designed to run over a decade, it comes from writer-showrunner Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on Succession, His Dark Materials, and Killing Eve, and director/executive producer Mark Mylod. Original author J.K. Rowling is also onboard as a co-producer.
The Harry Potter series is slated to debut in late 2026 or early 2027.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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