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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...

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is known as people's least favorite film in the Harry Potter franchise, but the movie still features some of the most amazing moments in the series. Goblet of Fire particularly stands out for its outstanding acting, great character portrayals (with the big exception of Dumbledore), and several scenes that have become legendary — for good reason. With several new characters, excellent actors like Brendan Gleeson and Miranda Richardson take the franchise to the next level.

Of course, no one denies that Durmstrang and Beauxbatons adaptations are terrible, and the same goes for the direction Michael Gambon took during this film. However, sometimes fans are so blinded by the outrage that they miss out on some truly memorable moments in Goblet of Fire.For example, Moody turning Draco into a ferret is, without a doubt, a perfect moment in the Harry Potter franchise.

Alastor Moody...

Fabulous Films have released Jim Henson’s The Storyteller on DVD.

From the creators of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, this complete collection comprises of all 9 episodes of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller series narrated by John Hurt (The Elephant Man), plus all 4 episodes of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Greek Myths narrated by Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore). Featuring both human actors and creations from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, The Storyteller won 2 BAFTA Awards and 1 Primetime Emmy Award.

Jim Henson’s daughter Lisa studied folklore as an undergraduate at Harvard, and suggested to her father that his creature shop could bring the European folk tales to life. It took 2 years for Academy-Award winning writer/director Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) to write, and perfect the nine original episodes. The series included the darker, scarier side of these traditional tales with their often bleak endings.

Jim Henson funded the pilot...

Fabulous Films have released Jim Henson’s The Storyteller on DVD. From the creators of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, this complete collection comprises of all 9 episodes of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller series narrated by John Hurt (The Elephant Man), plus all 4 episodes of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Greek Myths narrated by Michael Gambon [...]

The post Fabulous Films releases Jim Henson’s The Storyteller on DVD first appeared on Horror Screams Video Vault - Supporting Independent Horror.

John Lithgow is next in line to essay the role of Hogwarts Headmaster Dumbledore for HBO’s upcoming series, which is set to be a reboot of the Harry Potter franchise that wishes to focus on being more book-accurate. Lithgow did not take the role lightly, given the status of the character among fans, and wanted to know what the reboot was doing that was new.

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

In conversation with Variety, the actor revealed his query about playing Dumbledore, the original actor whom he admired, Michael Gambon. The popularity of the books was part of why he wanted to know the reason behind the second interpretation.

John Lithgow believes that Dumbledore matured into a complicated character Albus Dumbledore in a still from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter adaptations || Warner Bros.

Speaking with Variety, John Lithgow was very intrigued by the idea of a reboot,...

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,...

John Lithgow has teased how his character will return from death in the new Dexter series. Lithgow played the Trinity Killer in the fourth season of the original Showtime TV series.

Speaking with Variety, Lithgow shared that his appearance on the new Dexter show won't be a major one. "I just went back to do a day," he said. "They’re rebooting the entire Michael C. Hall version of ‘Dexter.’ And it turns out he didn’t die after all. I come back sort of as a phantom, as he gradually comes to life on a hospital bed." Lithgow appeared as Arthur Mitchell, the Trinity Killer who pretended to be a family man in Dexter. However, his character ultimately met his end when pursued by Dexter (Michael C. Hall), the show's titular vigilante serial killer.

Dexter: Resurrection is the latest spin-off in the franchise, developed as a continuation of Dexter: New Blood.

John Lithgowwill soon be saying "Sherbert Lemon," as the acclaimed actor will be starring in Max's upcoming Harry Potter series as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. While not much is known about Lithgow's portrayal of the iconic wizard, the actor recently provided some new tidbits about preparing for the role — and also gave some insight into something unique he shares with the prior Dumbledore, Michael Gambon.

John Lithgow’s career has spanned many years and stretched across stage, screen, TV screens and voice acting. There was exciting developments in the works when he was said to be in talks to play Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. He, then, confirmed that he accepted it, saying, “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.” Lithgow said, “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.“

Lithgow recently spoke with Variety, where he...

John Lithgow has had many iconic roles so far, but he has a brand-new chance to leave a different legacy with his upcoming role. The American actor will officially become the new Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series.

The actor is the only officially confirmed cast member for the upcoming Harry Potter reboot. HBO is planning to adapt all seven novels with one season per book, further allowing more time to develop the story and the characters. Speaking with Variety, Lithgow admitted he didn't know very much about Harry Potter, but he shares a magical connection with a former Dumbledore, the late Michael Gambon.

"I was a huge admirer of Michael Gambon," the actor revealed. "I never met him, but I always kind of idolized him. And Michael Gambon and I happened to have the same birthday, so I thought that was a kind of wizard-like touch.

John Lithgow is stepping into two iconic roles—one new, one old. The legendary actor joined Variety for an episode of “Know Their Lines” and confirmed he will be playing Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series and also revealed he’ll be returning to “Dexter” as the Trinity Killer. When it comes to the former role, Lithgow admitted he has “a lot of catching up to do.”

“I don’t know the Harry Potter canon by heart as 98% of the world’s population seems to,” he said. “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.”

The decision to take on Dumbledore wasn’t one he made lightly. “My big question to them was, ‘What is new about this? Why do more with the...

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...

Even if you're a "Doctor Who" fan with just a passing knowledge of the show's massive, six-decade-plus history on the BBC, you probably know that the cult fave has some procedural aspects built in, no matter who the current Doctor is or which person is overseeing the show at a given time. In the modern era of the Doctor, there can be a season-long arc of sorts, such as the Bad Wolf arc of the first modern season with Christopher Eccleston or when the Master became Missy for Peter Capaldi. But within that arc, there tend to be episodes that take place in the far future as well as episodes in which the Doctor inevitably meddles with their latest companion's home life. And there's almost always at least one episode set in a specific past era of British history, enabling the Doctor to encounter real-life figures like Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth,...

Exclusive: HBO is closing in on two more main cast members for its high-profile series adaptation of the hugely popular Harry Potter fantasy books. Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress Janet McTeer is in negotiations to play Professor Minerva McGonagall, sources tell Deadline. Additionally, Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu, one of the first actors identified for the series, is closing his deal to portray Professor Severus Snape, I hear. They are poised to join John Lithgow, who, as Deadline reported exclusively, will be playing Professor Albus Dumbledore.

HBO declined comment. “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” the network said in a statement. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

The Harry Potter series, designed to run over a decade, comes from writer-showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod. Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content,...

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter reboot is one of the most anticipated projects. With an already established fanbase, the series comes with a lot of pressure in terms of casting, storytelling, and universe.

With a premiere date tentatively set for 2026, HBO hasn't revealed any details about the upcoming project. The only known details were Warner Bros. Discovery's pledge for a more accurate depiction of the seven novels in J.K. Rowling's original Harry Potter series, and that critically acclaimed actor John Lithgow will be the new Professor Albus Dumbledore. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the series has received a disappointing update for the movie fans.

Speaking whether the new series will feature any of the original actors, Warner Bros. Discovery's IP exec Sarah Aubrey revealed the executives are looking at new, fresh talent, instead of casting some of the original actors.

We don’t want to repeat people that were in the movies.

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...

When I first read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I barely noticed it—just a fleeting moment in the chaos of Voldemort’s return. But looking back, as a Redditor pointed out, there was a tiny moment buried in Dumbledore’s reaction. And what was it? Well, a mysterious “glint of triumph” that Dumbledore felt after Harry told him about Voldemort taking his blood.

Dumbledore in a still from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | image: Warner Bros.

While I was too overwhelmed by Cedric’s death, the Death Eaters’ return, and the terror of Voldemort’s resurrection, it now seems like that was a pivotal moment of realization for Dumbledore, who understood that Voldemort could never truly kill Harry. Guess why? Well, I won’t let you take decades to fully appreciate it like me, so let’s dive into this genius foreshadowing and break it down.

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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.

John Lithgow may be about to take on the role of his life as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter TV series, but before that he has made himself into an internet meme that could well become his true legacy.

In the opening monologue of the 2025 Academy Awards, host Conan O’Brien took aim at several members of the audience, but when he turned his attention to Lithgow, it was to promise viewers that if anyone’s speeches drawled on for too long, then they would cut to the acclaimed actor showing his “slightly disappointed” face. If there was ever anything destined to become an instant meme, then the image below is it. Expect to see this shot, and other similar ones, turning up on a frequent basis in the future.

ABC

For those who missed the moment in all its glory, then it can be seen in the post shared on X below.

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...

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,...

Fresh off of the Oscar-nominated Conclave, John Lithgow has committed to playing one of the most iconic Harry Pottercharacters of all time in HBO's upcoming reboot. After being in negotiations with the network, the actor recently confirmed he will form part of the new series, playing the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. And while no other actors have been officially revealed from HBO's Harry Potter, Lithgow has some exciting words about what he believes will be a "tremendous" cast.

Speaking with MovieWeb, Lithgow expressed his excitement about joining HBO's Harry Potter reboot and teased that he will be "working with great people in a great city full of great actors." Of course, Lithgow does not confirm or deny any other potential castings, but he predicts the seven-season show will do them justice. Additionally, the six-time Emmy winner revealed his reaction to people sharing their glowing opinions about his career-defining casting as Dumbledore.

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,...

Between 2001 and 2011, eight "Harry Potter" movies hit theaters, with the final movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," split into two parts. After being cast in the lead role at an extraordinarily young age, Daniel Radcliffe played the titular Boy Who Lived beautifully throughout the entire franchise. Still, if you ask him, he wasn't always great, which is to say that he's not a particularly big fan of one specific installment.

Speaking to The Daily Mail back in 2014 about his career up until that point, Radcliffe said that he's not an especially big fan of watching his own performances, which certainly isn't unusual for performers ... but he also made sure to give a shoutout to the sixth "Harry Potter" movie in a pretty negative way. "I never liked watching myself on film but I do make myself sit through it," Radcliffe began. "I think it comes from not actually realizing...

Is Rupert Grint set to come back as Ron Weasley? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Rupert Grint hasn’t ruled out stepping back into Ron Weasley’s shoes, but it would take the right conditions to make it happen.

The 36-year-old, having spent a decade growing up with the character from ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’ to ‘The Deathly Hallows – Part 2,’ considers Ron an inseparable part of his life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rupert Grint (@rupertgrint)

Trending When Robert Pattinson Had This Savage Two-Word Response For Immigration Officer Who Questioned His Hollywood Career

When The Flash Director Revealed Ezra Miller-Helmed Film’s Controversial CGI Wasn’t A Mistake But Intentional: “It Was Part Of…”

Rupert Grint’s Conditions For Making a Comeback

While promoting ‘Knock at the Cabin’ in early 2023, Grint admitted that a return would only make sense if the timing was right and the original cast—Daniel Radcliffe,...

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,...

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.

To celebrate the release of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller available from 24th February on DVD, we have 2 copies to give away to lucky winners!

From the creators of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, this complete collection comprises of all 9 episodes of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller series narrated by John Hurt (The Elephant Man), plus all 4 episodes of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Greek Myths narrated by Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore). Featuring both human actors and creations from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, The Storyteller won 2 BAFTA Awards and 1 Primetime Emmy Award.

Jim Henson’s daughter Lisa studied folklore as an undergraduate at Harvard, and suggested to her father that his creature shop could bring the European folk tales to life. It took 2 years for Academy-Award winning writer/director Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) to write, and perfect the nine original episodes. The series included the darker, scarier side...

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...

There are a lot of characters to keep track of in the magical "Harry Potter" universe, but it's impossible to forget about Neville Longbottom, the shy and forgetful boy (played in the films by Matthew Lewis) who gets sorted into Gryffindor along with Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) himself. When we first meet Neville in both the book and film of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (or "Philosopher's Stone," if you live abroad), he's lost track of his toad Trevor, and his sweet, bumbling behavior persists throughout the story. Unfortunately, during "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Harry learns something genuinely devastating about Neville's parents ... and the movies don't actually include all of the tragic details.

On the surface, Harry and Neville have very similar stories. Both of them were the only sons of Aurors, and Harry's parents Lily and Alice, alongside Neville's parents Frank and Alice, were members...

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,...