John Lithgow reveals how Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter will be his last

Potterheads cannot wait to dive back into the magical world created by J. K. Rowling in her acclaimed books through the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Promised to be a faithful, decade-long adaptation of the novels, the series will explore the characters and world of Hogwarts in depth.

The creative team behind the Harry Potter series includes Francesca Gardiner as the showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes. Not only them, as Rowling herself has joined the project as an executive producer, alongside David Heyman, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts.

As for the cast, the makers are currently looking for young actors, but one character has been finalized. We're talking about the wise and enigmatic headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore, helmed by John Lithgow.

The actor opened up about securing the iconic role in the upcoming TV series and also mentioned that it would be among his last big roles due to his age. Lithgow said:

"I don’t know the Harry Potter canon by heart as 98% of the world’s population seems to... It was a huge decision because it involves the next several years of my life. And I’m not young. I mean, this is the last big role I’ll probably play."

Before agreeing to play Dumbledore, John Lithgow questioned why another adaptation was required. The makers explained to him that this project would be different from the films and aimed to bring fresh elements to the story.

Continue reading to learn more about Lithgow's interview.

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John Lithgow has been officially cast as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter TV series

While the fans await the casting announcement of the trio for the main cast, John Lithgow has indeed confirmed that he is playing one of the most legendary characters. Albus Dumbledore was not only a headmaster but also a beacon for Harry Potter, who assisted in formulating the battle against Lord Voldemort.

Since Lithgow isn't a hardcore fan of the fantasy book series, he has started reading them to ensure an authentic portrayal. During the same interview, the actor shared how he's preparing for the role. Lithgow said:

"As the kids grew older [in the books], you learn more and more about Dumbledore, and he became a much more surprising, complicated character... They have described this to me, and I’ve got to discover it for myself and make it my own."

Also, Lithgow mentioned being an admirer of the late Michael Gambon, who portrayed Dumbledore in most of the Harry Potter movies. Although he never met him, Lithgow knew Gambon as a great actor, and the two even had the same birthday, which John Lithgow described as a "wizard-like touch."

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