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John Lithgow is preparing to take on the role of a fan favorite literary character in the upcoming Harry Potter HBO TV series.

While speaking on the SmartLess podcast on Monday, the actor admitted that he’s “behind everybody” when it comes to knowing the series but doesn’t think the role of Albus Dumbledore in the reboot project will be “that hard.”

“The overall concept of this entire reboot of Harry Potter is an entire season is devoted to a single novel,” Lithgow said of the series, which HBO announced in April 2023. He shared that he’s “halfway through the second” novel right now as he’s educating himself on the story.

Given that the series will chronicle all seven books, host Sean Hayes asked Lithgow about the filming schedule and how much he’d be traveling, with the series expected to film in London. Lithgow didn’t yet...

Jared Harris took a massive gamble on Mad Men, keeping a career-altering secret that most actors wouldn’t dare. Without telling his agent, he made a bold move that came at a huge personal cost, but for Harris, it was all about serving the story.

Jared Harris in a still from Chernobyl | Credits: HBO

While many would fight for job security, he embraced the risk, proving his commitment to the craft. In Hollywood, that kind of dedication is rare.

Jared Harris kept his Mad Men exit a secret, even from his own agent A still from Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men | Credits: AMC

Jared Harris pulled off something most actors wouldn’t even consider: he kept his Mad Men exit a secret from his own agent.

During a Canneseries Live masterclass, Harris revealed how showrunner Matthew Weiner broke the news over a midday whiskey. He alluded (via Variety),

As soon...

Few films have received as much incoherently contradictory reception as Ken Hughes’ Cromwell. The British historical drama made its silver-screen debut in July 1970. It was promptly criticized by professionals, yet it became the year’s highest-grossing British film. At the same time, Cromwell earned Vittorio Nino Novarese a shiny Academy Award for Best Costume Design. At Spain’s annual Fotogramas de Plata, leading actor Richard Harris earned the fifth spot for Best Foreign Movie Performer. Cromwell is as dramatic as its release history. That shouldn’t be too surprising, either; its highly romanticized story covers the English Civil War. In some ways, it’s comparable to America’s Oscar-winning historical drama, Lincoln, and its historical roots are no less ideologically divisive.

Notably, the film has everything it needs to succeed. Its gorgeous visuals handily bring some of Britain’s most controversial moments to life. Its cast is outstanding and studded with countless top-tier stars.

That was some cliffhanger. There is nothing like finding a trail of blood and illegal experiments to unite rivals to discover the truth.

Spoilers for The Hunting Party Season 1 Episode 8 hint that Oliver, Bex, and Hassani continue their investigation to learn who conducted the experiments in Silo 12 and what they intended to use the prisoners for.

Additionally, this week’s serial killer becomes dangerous because he adopts another inmate’s style of killing as a way of honoring her.

(David Astorga/NBC) The Student Becomes the Master and Adopts Another Prisoner’s Killing Style

This episode may answer some more questions about the Pit. In the previous episodes, we’ve never seen the prisoners interact much.

However, this week’s serial killer is almost like a copycat and mimics an infamous prisoner, Denise Glenn, portrayed by Janet Kidder. (Star Trek: Discovery)

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 11 May Have Towen Bypassing Infidelity...

Marty Callner, the 12-time Emmy nominee who created HBO’s Hard Knocks and directed and/or produced music videos and TV specials featuring the likes of Cher, Garth Brooks, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, has died. He was 78.

Callner died Monday at his home in Malibu, his rep Gail Parenteau announced. His son Jazz said it was from natural causes.

The first music videos he directed were ones in 1984 for Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and Pat Benatar’s “We Belong,” and he also handled Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time”; Aerosmith’s “Cryin’,” “Crazy,” “Amazing,” “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “Love in an Elevator”; Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again,” Poison’s “Every Rose Has a Thorn,” Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back” and Bon Jovi’s “Lie to Me,” more than 200 in all, most for MTV.

John Lithgow, the Hollywood legend who was recently cast as Albus Dumbledore in the TV reboot of the Harry Potter franchise, has teased his version of the beloved Hogwarts Headmaster and one of the most important characters of the Wizarding World. While many still disagree over the casting of the show (and just the show in general), the Harry Potter TV series is happening, and Lithgow's remarks are pretty exciting for those on board.

Per Variety, the actor, who is best known for shows like The Crown and 3rd Rock From the Sun and movies like Shrek and Interstellar, was featured in an episode of their series Know Their Lines, where celebrities answer questions about their careers. Lithgow spoke about many of his roles in films and television. Nevertheless, he also teased his role in the Harry Potter TV reboot, saying that due to the complexity and scope, it will...

The Harry Potter TV show's new Dumbledore actor, John Lithgow, explains how he was convinced to join the adaptaton. After the eight successful Warner Bros. films, J.K. Rowling's fantasy story is now set to be brought to life in the form of a multi-season TV show on HBO from showrunner Francesco Gardiner. The full cast for the Harry Potter TV show has not yet been announced, but Lithgow confirmed to ScreenRant last month that he will be playing Albus Dumbledore, a role previously played by late actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.

In a recent interview with Variety, Lithgow admits that, while he may not have been very familiar with the world of Harry Potter, he knows that the previous eight films were successful. This raised the question for him of why he should join this new adaptation. According to Lithgow, the creatives behind the show presented Dumbledore's full journey to him,...

In spite of the numerous controversies the popular children's series seems to provoke at times, Harry Potter is getting a facelift thanks to HBO's near-unlimited budget in a new series! With multiple sets of news and updates released at different times, it can be hard to keep track of it all. So here's 3 updates you might have missed about HBO's Harry Potter series that you need to know!

Harry Potter series begins filming this summer

The upcoming HBO series' April casting timeline suggests a Summer 2025 start to the first series shoot, but casting for a number of roles has been in negotiation since last year. We'll get to that in a moment. According to Deadline, the show will be filmed at the Warner Bros. studio lot in Leavesden in England. This is the same place where the movies were filmed as well.

The news outlet shares that we can expect...

There have already been a few cinematic looks at the famed 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue that saved 12 young Thai soccer players and their coach. First, “Free Solo” Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin helmed National Geographic documentary “The Rescue.” Then, Ron Howard directed the 2022 biographical drama “Thirteen Lives,” starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton.

Now, another documentary about what happened to one of the heroes after the media storm of 2018 enters the fray.

“Deeper,” which will premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival in the Documentary Spotlight section, centers on anesthetist Dr. Richard Harris, whose technique was key to extracting the stranded teen soccer players one by one. (Harris was portrayed by Joel Edgerton in “Thirteen Lives.”)

Jennifer Peedom writes and directs the documentary, with Alex Barry co-directing. “Deeper” is produced by Blayke Hoffman. Subject Harris executive produces the film and is credited as the underwater...

HBO is slowly building out the cast list for its upcoming Harry Potter reboot. Most recently, it filled one of the most important roles in the entire franchise: Professor Albus Dumbledore, who will be played by Shrek star John Lithgow in the new series. Despite being a beloved actor who has starred in everything from Third Rock From the Sun to Star Wars, Lithgow's casting was seen as being controversial because he's American. Fans rushed to social media to complain about the casting, but Lithgow is putting everyone's minds at ease as he promises to do the character justice.

During an interview with Collider, to promote his new movie The Rule of Jenny Pen, Lithgow addressed the controversy surrounding his Harry Potter casting. When asked if he's started prep for how he's going to play Dumbledore, Lithgow said, "Not a lot, but he's certainly an Englishman." The actor revealed he...

Quick LinksRichard Harris Is Fondly Remembered For His Time as DumbledoreMajor Dundee Is an Underrated GemRichard Harris Cemented His Leading Man Potential

Typecasting is a very real fear for many actors. When taking on a role, performers are extremely conscious of how they will be viewed for the rest of their careers. In some cases, a single role will result in plenty more offers of similar material, without much room for growth. In other situations, a performance can help cement their legacy, while opening doors they may never have expected. This is especially true of big blockbuster filmmaking and genre pieces. Those that starred in Harry Potter very much have this same difficult tightrope to walk. On one hand, stars like Daniel Radcliffe have attempted to build a new foundation, with unique choices like a Weird Al biopic contributing to an impressive career.

Others, such as Alan Rickman, had a...

Passionate fans of the celebrated Harry Potterfilm franchise couldn't hide their shock and apprehension when news first broke in 2023 that the bestselling J.K. Rowling books would once again be given the Hollywood treatment, this time on the small screen. The beloved series was both a critical and commercial knockout, grossing over $7.7 billion throughout its 10-year run and sparking a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, while also establishing its talented ensemble cast as bona fide superstars.

It's been 14 years since the final installment in the franchise debuted, and HBO (now also Max) is setting out to do a spellbinding retelling of the classic novels, once again sharing the captivating story of the 11-year-old boy wonder who discovers he has been accepted to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he makes lifelong friends and must face off against the nefarious Voldemort. Let's take a look at everything we know so far about the highly-anticipated adaptation.

The cause of the deaths of Oscar-winning film star Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, remains under investigation after the couple was found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Feb. 26. Now, family friends of Hackman and Arakawa are talking about how the late actor’s health had been declining for some time.

In an interview with People, Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, and their son, Aaron, talked about the friendship they had with Hackman and Arakawa that spanned more than three decades. They said the Supermanactor’s health had been on the downturn in the last few months.

Daniel Lenihan said that “in recent times” Hackman was “essentially kind of home-bound.” Barbara Lenihan added that Hackman had “quit riding his bike through the neighborhood” about a year ago.

Related'He Was a Tough Nut': Bill Murray Recalls Working With Gene Hackman on The Royal Tenenbaums

Bill Murray starred...

It's never easy to learn that yet another screen titan has left us. The rate at which we've been losing our legends is gutting, which is why it deeply saddened me when I found out about the great Gene Hackman passing away with his wife Betsy Arakawa in their New Mexico home.

When it comes to the actor's diverse body of work, there's almost too much to talk about. But that was how Hackman secured his legacy as one of the industry's most versatile performers for decades. Any contemporary actor alive would kill to have the resume Hackman had. He worked with greats like Arthur Penn ("Bonnie and Clyde"), Francis Ford Coppola ("The Conversation"), Richard Donner ("Superman: The Movie"), Sam Raimi ("The Quick and the Dead"), Tony Scott ("Crimson Tide"), and Wes Anderson ("The Royal Tenenbaums"), among countless others.

Hackman won his first Academy Award in 1972 for his turn as...

Method actors are a different breed. Consider Dustin Hoffman. The notoriously intense performer habitually put his directors through their paces by hurtling himself deep into character. It wasn't enough for Hoffman to study the screenplay like it was holy writ; he had to get himself on the same emotional frequency as his characters, even if this meant endangering his physical and mental health. This is what he did on the set of John Schlesinger's "Marathon Man" prior to shooting the classic torture scene wherein Laurence Olivier's Nazi dentist literally attempts to drill information out of him. Hoffman, who was already contending with a divorce at the time, not only deprived himself of sleep but made the hard-partying scene at Studio 54. By the time he was seated in front of Olivier, he was a sweaty, addled mess, which prompted the planet's greatest living Shakespearean actor at the time to ask his co-star,...

UnforgivenTwo of Hollywood’s greatest actors have contributed their tributes to Gene Hackman following the announcement of his death, along with that of his wife and one of their dogs, earlier today. Adding to the likes of Francis Ford Coppola and Josh Brolin, industry veterans Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood mourned the loss of the “incredibly gifted” actor.

Clint Eastwood starred with Hackman in 1992’s Unforgiven and again in 1997’s Absolute Power. Hackman won an Oscar for his role in Eastwood’s incredible Western, for his supporting role of Little Bill Daggett, and it is not surprising that the director has some high praise for Hackman in the wake of his passing. In a statement to Variety, Eastwood said:

“There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”

Following Eastwood’s statement, Unforgiven...

Quick LinksShades of Gray in a Black and White MythosWhen the Legend Becomes Fact...Turning the Western Genre Right-Side up at Last

In 1992, Clint Eastwood crafted one of the all-time great Westerns in cinema history, the Oscar-winning end-of-the-West epic Unforgiven. It's easy to look at the film and appreciate the masterful work of Eastwood both in front of and behind the camera with a story he'd been eyeing since the 1970s. By 1992, Eastwood was already an aging icon even then, having starred in and directed countless classic Westerns as well as multiple other massive hits. Unforgiven would become his farewell to the genre, a love letter to the conventions while also being a condemnation of the dark, ugly truths beneath the facade of the American West.

These are just a few of the powerful themes the film pulls off, but none of it would have been possible without Gene Hackman...

Gruff. Authoritative. Crafty. Intense.

Gene Hackman was one of those 20th century legacy actors who — along with the likes of Harrison Ford and Clint Eastwood — always brought a uniquely mesmerizing tough competence to his characters. Whether playing a volatile cop in The French Connection, a criminal mastermind in Superman or a murderous sheriff in Unforgiven, Hackman delivered dialogue with an un-showy pragmatism. He often conveyed a simmering undercurrent of anger or a twinkle of dry humor — or both at the same time. Hackman’s typical onscreen persona was also surprisingly versatile, unlike some of his contemporaries. He could convincingly play the hero or the heel and still seem like, well, like Gene Hackman. Even his good guys felt borderline villainous; he helped define “antihero.”

With the tragic news Thursday of Hackman’s death at the age of 95, The Hollywood Reporter has assembled some of the actor’s finest and most memorable scenes.

The news that actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe has shocked the industry and led to widespread tributes for one of the true greats of cinema.

Clint Eastwood, who directed and starred with Hackman in 1992’s Unforgiven, said in a statement to Deadline: “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”

Writer-director Mel Brooks reminisced about working with Hackman on his Academy Award-nominated 1974 comedy classic Young Frankenstein.

“I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie Young Frankenstein,” wrote Brooks on X. “He said, ‘Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.

Quick LinksRobbie Coltrane Was Not The First Choice To Play Rubeus HagridDespite The Ban, Some American Actors Did Make It Into The Harry Potter Films

While there have been several rumors surrounding the casting of Max's Harry Potter TV Series, official news on actors for the program has been surprisingly quiet. This long period of silence finally ended on February 25, with the reveal that John Lithgow will be the latest actor to portray Albus Dumbledore. He will join the likes of Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, and Jude Law, who have all taken on Hogwarts headmaster. Speaking to ScreenRant, John Lithgow has stated how the role will "define" him for the "last chapter of his life." The actor was contacted to depict Albus Dumbledore at the Sundance Film Festival and noted how it came as a "surprise" to him. John Lithgow has confirmed his intentions to stay in the role for...

Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Nathan Lane and more paid tribute to Gene Hackman after the Oscar-winning actor was found dead at 95 alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday.

“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity,” wrote Coppola, who directed him in 1974’s “The Conversation,” on Instagram. “I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”

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Hackman starred in “The Conversation,” Coppola’s 1974 neo-noir mystery thriller, as Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who faces a moral dilemma when his recordings reveal a potential murder. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d’Or, and received three Oscar nominations for best picture, original screenplay and sound.

Eastwood,...

We're sorry to report that Hollywood legend Gene Hackman passed away on February 26, 2025, alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as confirmed by Variety. The actor was 95 years old and his cause of death has yet to be announced at the time of writing, though local authorities in Sante Fe, New Mexico, where the couple resided, confirmed they don't have any reason to believe foul play was involved. 

The 1970s was a wild time for Hollywood. Gone were the movie stars of old and what replaced them was a new breed of actor grounded in reality. These actors could be balding and pudgy or wiry and short. Even the traditionally handsome and beautiful stars embraced non-glamorous roles as the world was transitioning from the tumultuous 1960s to a newer era of disillusion.

Hackman thrived in this environment, becoming one of the most versatile stars of his era. The man could move between...

Following reports of his potential involvement in the Harry Potter series, John Lithgow has now confirmed that he will be playing Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s new television series based on J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. However, despite the buzz surrounding his casting, there has been considerable discourse for various reasons.

John Lithgow in a still from Conclave | Credits: Focus Features

While some Potterheads want the showrunners to continue following the ‘British actors only’ rule from the film series, others have shared their discomfort with Lithgow’s collaboration with Rowling, especially due to his role in the 1982 romantic comedy and its conflicting nature with the author’s controversial stance.

John Lithgow to play Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter TV series

Following the huge success of the film series, HBO announced a new Harry Potter adaptation for television. Based on each book in J.K. Rowling’s series, the...

The Harry Potter reboot has entered into the casting stage, where producers and casting directors battle it out to see who will take on these prestigious roles. While the HBO streaming series will be bringing a range of unknown actors into the ensemble to flesh out key roles like Harry, Hermione and Ron, the show will also pay homage to the original Harry Potter movies by ensuring that veteran performers are there to support them. Casting rumors have been running amok as of late, with a range of known names potentially given contracts for the show. However, fans have also been voicing their own perfect picks, with everyone from Kristian Nairn to Helen Mirren and Adam Driver getting chosen. Confirmed castings are thin on the ground, though, with only a couple of suggestions seemingly carrying weight.

Dumbledore is one of the most important characters on the show and must be chosen with great care.

The Harry Potter universe is starting to shape up, as the first actor has been officially confirmed for the upcoming HBO TV series reboot. With John Lithgow set to play Professor Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming series, he also clarified something important: he wants to do the character justice.

Lithgow just confirmed in a recent interview with ScreenRant that he was going to become the new Professor Dumbledore, after the rumors that he was close to signing a deal broke out in mid-February. The actor has a long list of accolades and awards, but he was born in New York, US, instead of the UK or Ireland, the way some people would expect. In a new interview with Collider, the American actor clarified Dumbledore will be British.

Related'It's Quite Boring': Jason Isaacs Shared Why the Harry Potter Films 'Weren't Much Fun' to Film

The actor got very real about the magical part of the films.

Albus Dumbledore’s half-moon spectacles will be handed down to none other than John Lithgow.

The six-time Emmy winner confirmed the news to ScreenRant, saying he would be taking on the role for HBO’s Harry Potter television series. Richard Harris and Michael Gambon previously played the beloved Hogwarts headmaster in the Harry Potter film franchise based on J. K. Rowling’s best-selling book series of all time.

“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,...

The Harry Potter television series has officially found its headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

John Lithgow, 79, recently confirmed to ScreenRant that he said “yes” to playing Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming small screen adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s hit books. The Hollywood Reporter reported earlier this month that Lithgow was in talks for the role.

“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” the veteran actor said. “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,...

John Lithgow is opening up about about joining HBO’s Harry Potter series where he will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore.

Deadline broke the news that Lithgow was posed to portray the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts in the TV series adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s fantasy novels.

“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” Lithgow told Screen Rant in an interview. “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.”

He continued, “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.

John Lithgow confirmed in a new interview with ScreenRant that he will be playing Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s “Harry Potter” television series. Variety reported earlier this month that Lithgow was eyeing the role. Lithgow now follows in the footsteps of actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, who played the iconic Hogwarts headmaster in the “Harry Potter” film franchise.

“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” Lithgow said about the role. “I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival, 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.”

Lithgow continued, “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.

That’s Headmaster Lithgow to the rest of us.

Two weeks after it was reported that John Lithgow (3rd Rock From the Sun) was nearing a deal to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter series, the Emmy winner now appears to have confirmed he’ll portray the beloved Hogwarts headmaster.

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“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,...

After reports that HBO was circling John Lithgow to portray Professor Dumbledore in its upcoming “Harry Potter” series, the actor has confirmed in a new interview that he is indeed taking the role. He expressed his excitement and nervousness at committing to such a role for so many years.

“It came as a total surprise to me. I got the phone call 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,” Lithgow told the fan site Screen Rant. “But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to ‘Harry Potter.'”

Lithgow was asked if he’s prepared to portray Dumbledore for seven seasons worth of television. Lithgow previously starred in six seasons of the sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun,” which...

John Lithgow is the first star confirmed for HBO's Harry Potter TV series, in which he'll play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. While Lithgow is excited to take the baton from the late Michael Gambon, the legendary actor had some reservations about the reboot at first. "My first question is, 'Do we really need this?' There have been wonderful Harry Potter films and books," Lithgow tells MovieWeb, "And people know the books by heart."

While it's been close to 14 years since the final installment in the Harry Potter film franchise, many fans wondered if HBO's new reboot was necessary. Now that Lithgow has confirmed his casting as wizarding icon Albus Dumbledore, it's only a matter of time before we learn who will play lead protagonists Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Production on Season 1 is scheduled to start in April 2025 with a tentative release date of 2026 or 2027.

Related10 Things the Harry Potter...

John Lithgow has officially signed on to play Dumbledore in an upcoming Harry Potter television series!

The 79-year-old actor confirmed in a new interview that he will be tackling the role of the wise wizard, who was previously played by Michael Gambon and Richard Harris in the original Harry Potter films.

Keep reading to find out more…

“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,” John revealed to ScreenRant.

He continued: “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.

A brand-new adventure sits in front of all current and future Harry Potterfans. With a TV series in development, there is an official star attached to the project.

There are few other big franchises out there to attract as much interest than Harry Potter, and Warner Bros. is using the popularity in its favor. In April 2023, the studio, which owns the rights to J.K. Rowling's seven novels, announced a new adaptation in the form of a TV series. With the fast-approaching deadline to start filming over the summer, ScreenRant confirms John Lithgow is set to play Dumbledore.

Related'Madam, Please Stop.': Harry Potter Star Jason Isaacs Reveals the 'Amusing Worst' Fan Interaction

The actor has had plenty of fan interactions and some of them he categorized as "amusing worst."

During an interview with the outlet to promote his latest project, The Rule of Jenny Penn, the American actor officially...

HBO's upcoming reboot of Harry Potter finally has at least one confirmed cast member, and he's going all-in to portray an iconic character. Although the network has remained tight-lipped about the cast of the controversial remake, one name surfaced recently that was reportedly set to join Harry Potter. No stranger to television, the six-time Emmy-winning actor John Lithgow was in talks to play the beloved headmaster of Hogwarts in the new reboot from HBO. Now, Lithgow himself has commented on the news, confirming he'll be staying at Hogwarts for a long, long time.

During an interview with Screen Rant, Conclave star John Lithgow confirmed he is set to play Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter. Additionally, he talked about the process of choosing to spend a good part of the rest of his professional career and life working on the new adaptation. The HBO series will adapt each book into a full season of television,...

It’s almost hard to believe, but nearly 30 years ago, the fantasy genre changed with the release of the first installment of J.K. Rowling’s globally successful Harry Potter novel series in 1997. With people all around the world falling in love with Harry’s magical story and longing to find out more about Hogwarts, Warner Bros. turned the novel series into one of the best fantasy movie series, which enchants fans to this day.

Even after all these years, there are two things that will probably never change: the love for the story and the discovery of unexpected connections. While there are numerous connections and hidden Easter eggs in the Harry Potter movies and books, there is a significant theory circulating online regarding the Christmas gifts which the Dursleys sent to Harry. Let’s take a look at them and explore their meaning.

Your Ratingclose10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 stars...

Quick LinksThe Missing 24 Hours in Harry Potter, ExplainedHow Did Dumbledore Learn of James and Lily Potter's Death?What Else Happened on the Night of James and Lily Potter’s Death?

It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. Cbr supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find Cbr's continuing coverage on J.K. Rowling here.

The Harry Potter series is special for so many reasons ranging from the magic itself to the characters. Yet, it's easy to overlook that each story is as engaging as it is because there are mysteries at the heart of them. From the very beginning of the Harry Potter series, there's the mystery of how the young wizard survived Voldemort's attack. As the story progresses,...

The revered but divisive American director, who died in 1984, would have turned 100 this week. We rate his greatest movies, from Straw Dogs to The Wild Bunch

After making his name as a director of westerns, Sam Peckinpah was given his first shot at making a major studio film – an epic about a tyrannical cavalry officer (Charlton Heston) leading an expedition into Mexico. The production set a template for later Peckinpah films – heavy drinking, personality clashes, battles with the suits, and a final cut not matching the director’s vision. Major Dundee was a victim of its chaotic ambition and it’s easy to see why it flopped on release: even in the 2005 restored version, it is hopelessly unfocused, taking in Dundee’s Moby-Dick-like mission to track down an Apache chief, the dynamics of the US civil war, encounters with the French army and an unconvincing romantic interlude. But it’s interestingly flawed,...

John Lithgow has built a remarkable career with roles that prove his versatility as an actor. However, there was one role that could have changed his career in an entirely different way. Long before The Fly became a horror classic, the actor had the opportunity to play the lead character, Seth Brundle. But instead of accepting the part, he chose to walk away.

Jeff Goldblum in a still from The Fly | Credits: 20th Century Fox

At the time, The Fly was just another project in development, but it later became one of the most iconic body horror films of all time. Jeff Goldblum’s unforgettable performance cemented his place in Hollywood, yet Lithgow was initially considered for the role. Looking back, he admitted that there was something about the story that made him uncomfortable.

What made John Lithgow turn down The Fly?

John Lithgow has played many different roles in his long career.

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Getting an invitation to Hogwarts is a Harry Potter fan's dream. The idea of playing Quidditch, riding a hippogriff, and practicing wand skills during a Defense Against the Dark Arts class sounds like a blast. Visions of such moments danced in the heads of readers for a few years until the series took to the big screen in the early 2000s, beginning with 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Just like the books, the films took off, creating a film franchise of massive proportions and launching the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. Of course, it was a prediction that many could have guessed based on literary success. 

Despite the largely unnoticed recasting of one of the franchise's most hated characters, many of the characters and scenes are still beloved today. Established stars of the time,...

A lot of stuff got left on the cutting room floor when Warner Bros. started adapting the "Harry Potter" books into blockbuster movies, the first of which, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (or "Philosopher's Stone" if you don't live in the United States), hit theaters in November 2001. This was followed by the release of "Chamber of Secrets" in 2002, and when the third novel, "Prisoner of Azkaban," was adapted two years later, fans of the books were probably excited to learn a little more about the backstory of Harry's (played by Daniel Radcliffe in the films) father, James Potter (played by Adrian Rawlins as an adult in the films), whose death, along with that of his wife and Harry's mother Lily (played by Geraldine Somerville as an adult in the films), sets Harry's story in motion before the narrative even begins. Those fans would have been bitterly disappointed, though!

In...

News of John Lithgow's’s possible casting in the role of Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter TV series has sparked concern among fans of the franchise, with many pointing out a somewhat morbid fact that could see history repeating itself. Although reactions to Lithgow entering final negotiations to step into the robes of Hogwarts’ headmaster have been fairly positive, some have noted that it is likely the Dexter star would need to live until he is 90 to be able to complete the entire series.

Actors are working longer than ever in the industry, with the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Harrison Ford, and Anthony Hopkins continuing to appear in several new projects a year despite having a combined age of almost 250 years between them. It is therefore quite possible for the now-79-year-old to still be stepping in front of the camera in 10 years’ time. However, fans have...

John Lithgow, de 79 años, será el director de Hogwarts. © Warner Bros | Getty Images

¡Bombazo en el Wizarding World! De acuerdo con Deadline, John Lithgow (Cónclave), está a punto de firmar el contrato que lo convertirá en el legendario director de Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, en la serie de Harry Potter de HBO, descrita como una fiel adaptación de los libros de J.K. Rowling.

Richard Harris y Michael Gambon han sido la cara del personaje en el cine, mientras que Jude Law lo encarnó en su versión joven en Animales fantásticos. Aunque todos ellos son británicos o irlandeses y Lithgow es estadounidense, el actor ha interpretado a personajes británicos anteriormente. De hecho, ganó el más reciente de sus seis premios Emmy por su interpretación de Winston Churchill en la serie The Crown y ha interpretado a Roald Dahl sobre un escenario londinense.

Ahora bien, antes de que Lithgow se hiciera con la...

Following recent reports claiming that both Mark Strong and Mark Rylance could be in contention to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter series, we're now hearing that John Lithgow is officially in talks for the role.

Lithgow has appeared in a multitude of film and TV projects over the years, including Dexter, Footloose, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Interstellar. More recently, he played key roles in Conclave and FX's prematurely cancelled The Old Man.

Jeff Sneider believes Rylance was offered the part, but declined after his wife passed away.

Mark Rylance decided to pass on the role after losing his wife last month. He's in mourning...https://t.co/iKpqGxJcZR https://t.co/mBjpbaa1Ii

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) February 13, 2025

Dumbledore was previously played by late Irish acting legends Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, with Jude Law portraying a younger take on the character in the Fantastic Beasts movies.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books will be getting a new series adaptation and early developments are underway for the series. Rumors began circulating about John Lithgow’s casting in the series in the role of Albus Dumbledore. While HBO hasn’t officially confirmed any updates regarding Lithgow’s rumored role, the show would have to break a major pattern of the movies to realize this casting.

A still from the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

While Lithgow is more than capable of starring in the role given his vast experience, he is still an American actor. Earlier, Harry Potter movies exclusively preferred British actors in different roles. The film franchise once rejected the legendary Robin Williams due to this reason.

John Lithgow’s potential Harry Potter casting hints at the series breaking a movie rule John Lithgow in a still from Conclave...

A live-action ‘Harry Potter’ TV series was first reported to be in development for HBO Max in January 2021. However, there were issues with rights to the franchise due to an existing deal with Warner Bros. that lasted until April 2025.

The series was officially confirmed in April 2023 and will be available on Max (formerly HBO Max). In February 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the show would launch in 2026. Then, in June 2024, it was announced that the series would be moved from Max to HBO.

So far nothing is known about the show in the official sense, no actors have been officially cast, but Mark Rylance is close to being signed for the role of Albus Dumbledore. There have been rumors about actors, including Cillian Murphy for the role of Lord Voldemort, but these are not true and were never confirmed by the official sources.

Now sources close to Deadline report that John Lithgow,...

HBO has been making fresh announcements about its Harry Potter, The Last Of Us and Euphoria shows, amongst others.

If you’re a fan of the television put out by HBO then you’ll likely find something in here to catch your interest.

Firstly, Deadline has broken a story which claims that John Lithgow is in final talks to take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming adaptation of Jk Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

Despite Mark Rylance and Mark Strong being named as potential candidates in the past, it appears that Lithgow may have ultimately snagged the part, placing him in an esteemed pantheon of actors who have also played the Hogwart’s headmaster, including Richard Harris, Michael Gambon and Jude Law.

HBO hasn’t confirmed the story, instead declining to comment when approached by the outlet. Given the outlet’s source is likely to be fairly official,...

The Harry Potter films were once upon a time a depository for every British and Irish thespian in the business — Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Richard Harris, and Michael Gambon — the list goes on. Now though, an American actor could potentially take the wand of one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

John Lithgow, who is American, is nearing a deal to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series reboot, according to a report in Deadline.

When reached, HBO reps declined comment on the report. HBO told Deadline, “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

No cast has been announced for the Harry Potter series as of yet, which is showrun by writer Francesca Gardiner and also comes from director and executive producer Mark Mylod.

HBO is currently casting a TV show based on the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, with the intention of adapting them in more detail than the popular movies did. Do I really have to tell you what the Harry Potter books are about? There's a kid named Harry. He lives in a cupboard under the stairs in the home of his abusive aunt and uncle. He learns he's a wizard and is whisked away to learn his craft at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he learns about magic, love and friendship.

The Harry Potter movies starred Daniel Radcliffe as Harry and Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Harry's friends Hermione and Ron. We've heard that HBO has found a new trio of kids to play these roles, but we don't know their names yet. But we have heard plenty about the adult characters. The latest news comes from Deadline,...

HBO is zeroing in on a key castmember for its Harry Potter series.

The premium cabler is in talks with John Lithgow to play Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. News of Lithgow’s potential involvement follows THR’s reporting that British actor Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) is in discussions to play Professor Severus Snape.

HBO declined comment.

The Harry Potter show is described as a “faithful” adaptation of author J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series chronicling the young wizards years at Hogwarts and his eventual face-off with the evil Lord Voldemort. Warner Bros. Television Group chairman and CEO said in November that “as somebody who is a huge fan of books, the opportunity to get to explore them in maybe a little bit more in-depth than you can in just a two-hour film, that’s the whole reason we’re on this journey.