John Lithgow to Portray Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter Series

HBO is forging ahead with its much-anticipated Harry Potter TV series, and it appears that John Lithgow has been cast as the iconic Professor Dumbledore. This news comes after HBO's extensive search for an actor to fill the role of the wise and powerful wizard.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Lithgow expressed his surprise at receiving the offer while attending the Sundance Film Festival. He shared his thoughts on accepting the role, noting, "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." Despite the weight of the decision, Lithgow is excited about the project, saying, "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."

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While Lithgow's casting marks the first reported confirmation for the upcoming series, it's important to note that neither HBO nor Warner Bros. has officially confirmed his involvement yet. The series aims to bring J.K. Rowling's beloved books to life on the small screen, with a fresh cast portraying characters such as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and the rest of the Hogwarts community. J.K. Rowling will join Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts as executive producers.

Given that the full cast has not yet been announced, it seems the show is still in the early stages of production. John Lithgow, a seasoned actor known for his roles in "3rd Rock from the Sun" and his Emmy-winning performance as Winston Churchill in "The Crown," is poised to bring depth and gravitas to the role of Dumbledore.