While WB may want new actors for the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, fans are expecting the adults in the series to be played by more established actors. The search has been on for the series’ Obi-Wan Kenobi mentor character Albus Dumbledore, and it looks like HBO has found their guy.
As per ScreenRant, John Lithgow (Conclave, Shrek) has confirmed that he’s going to be playing Dumbledore in the reboot. He says:
“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.”
Traditionally, the Potter cast in the films were all expected to be British, but casting Lithgow would be a major change since he’s American. Nevertheless, he’s played British onscreen before, having been cast as Winston Churchill in The Crown:
Interestingly enough, the actor that Lithgow shares a scene with here, Jared Harris, is the son of original Dumbledore actor Richard Harris.
Admittedly, I thought they would cast someone much younger to play the role of Dumbledore, but Lithgow does seem to have the acting chops of being able to play stern and serious, while at the same time be silly and whimsical—essential to the Dumbledore character that may have been lost in the movies toward the final books.
So far, no other major cast member has been confirmed, but fans are waiting in anticipation for more updates.
The Potter reboot TV series has yet to get a release date, but it’s expected to premiere on Max.
