Following John Lithgow’s confirmation that he’s been cast as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter reboot, it’s been revealed how old he’ll be when it ends.
In April 2023, it was officially announced that a TV adaptation of the story about the boy wizard Harry Potter was in the works at HBO.
Since then, speculation has been rife about which acting legends will be cast as the beloved characters, as well as which young children will be chosen for the golden trio Harry, Ron and Hermione, who were played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the film franchise.
After it was claimed that Sir Mark Rylance was being eyed up for the role of Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore, Lithgow, 79, revealed that he has actually been selected, following in the footsteps of Michael Gambon and Richard Harris from the movies and Jude Law from the Fantastic Beasts films.
The American actor, who will be the first non-Irish or British actor to play the part, said that it was ‘not an easy decision’ to agree, adding that it came as a ‘total surprise’.
Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav recently addressed the future of the Harry Potter TV show, revealing the intention for it to air for a whole decade.
‘When we launch Harry Potter in a year, a little over a year, we’ll have 10 consecutive years of Harry Potter, and be able to amortize that globally, around the world,’ he said, according to sports media outlet Awful Announcing.
Deadline also reported that the drama is expected to launch in 2026 or 2027.
Given Lithgow is currently 79 – turning 80 in October – this means that by the time the Harry Potter TV series ends, he’ll either by 90 or in his early nineties.
Six-time Emmy-winner Lithgow won his most recent Emmy Award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Crown.
Speaking about playing Dumbledore, he told Screen Rant: ‘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.
‘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.’
The HBO production will be filmed in the same Warner Bros. Studios in the UK where the films were also shot.
Harry Potter fans previously aired their thoughts on social media over Lithgow’s casting when he was rumoured – and the reaction was mixed.
‘A strange but interesting cast. Love John Lithgow but don’t know how to feel about this one,’ said @HomieSanto.
‘Weird choice. Maybe it could work but still odd…’ added @1MrPapi.
‘He would’ve made a great Mad Eye Moody too,’ said@onBrandVibes, adding: ‘I can’t see him playing Dumbledore but he’s a great actor, so I’ll give it a chance.’
However, others called the casting ‘perfect’, as @colinkorbelas wrote on X: ‘This is actually a perfect casting.’
‘Great choice. Lithgow just gets better and better all of the time,’ added @MikeBinderjokes.
While the films whizzed past some details of JK Rowling’s books, this series is marketed as a ‘faithful adaptation’ of the original works, which were released from 1997 to 2007 over seven books.
So there might be a whole lot more Dursley storylines developed, and Ginny Weasley’s vibrant personality might finally translate to the screen.
Dumbledore is a major character in the story of Harry Potter; an orphaned boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs until he discovers he’s a famous wizard with a big old target on his back.
Headmaster Dumbledore is the main guardian of young Harry, but famously – spoiler alert – dies in the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, at the hands of double spy Professor Severus Snape.
Lithgow is currently in the news for his Oscar contender film Conclave, but is also known for previous roles in The Crown, The Old Man, Killers of the Flower Moon, Interstellar, Dexter, Shrek, Footloose, The World According to Garp, Cliffhanger and Love is Strange.
The casting call for the new series launched in September, focusing on children from the UK and Ireland for the roles of Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and their peers. Around 32,000 children were said to have sent in audition tapes.
Ever since the announcement, speculation has been rife on who will take up the most beloved roles.
Rumours have so far swirled that Paapa Essiedu would make a fabulous Snape, Sharon Horgan as Professor Minerva McGonnagall and Brett Goldstein for Rubeus Hagrid.
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Others have thought Cillian Murphy would make a convincing Voldemort, including Ralph Fiennes, who famously portrayed the evil wizard in all eight films.
The news of the series comes as controversy continues surrounding the world’s creator, JK Rowling – who has been accused of trans-exclusionary remarks. The author strongly denies being transphobic.
A version of this article was first published on February 12.
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The Harry Potter TV series will air on HBO Max.
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