Oscar-winning actor John Lithgow is in final talks to play iconic wizard Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter adaptation. Variety has confirmed Lithgow’s contention for the role, but HBO declined to comment further on the matter.
Dumbledore, a beloved character in the Harry Potter series, is known for being the caring yet mysterious headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He plays a crucial role in mentoring young wizard Harry against the Dark Lord Voldemort.
Lithgow, renowned for his extensive film and TV career, is set to join a talented cast that includes Paapa Essiedu as potions professor Severus Snape. The series, described as a “faithful adaptation,” aims to introduce new audiences to the beloved story while maintaining its core characters and films.
Warner Bros. has launched an open casting call for the main trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, who will likely be played by newcomers aged 9-11. The HBO series is planned to run over a decade and feature stunning detail and characters that fans have come to love.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/harry-potter-hbo-series-john-lithgow-dumbledore-1236305772