John Lithgow is officially stepping into the robes of Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter series.

In an interview with Screenrant on February 26, the veteran actor confirmed rumors about his casting, revealing that the offer came unexpectedly while he was at the Sundance Film Festival.

"It came as a total surprise to me," Lithgow said. "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."

Lithgow is the first actor to officially confirm his involvement in the series, though HBO has yet to announce any official casting details.

At 79 years old, the 3rd Rock from the Sun star is expected to be part of the decade-long project, as the series will adapt one book per season starting in 2026. If the production follows its estimated timeline, Lithgow will be 87 by the time the series wraps in 2033.

His casting marks a significant departure from the original Harry Potter films, which primarily featured British actors, adhering to an agreement between J.K. Rowling and director Chris Columbus. Lithgow’s inclusion suggests that the new adaptation may take a more international approach to casting.

Despite being American, Lithgow has plenty of experience playing British roles. He famously portrayed Winston Churchill in The Crown and voiced the villainous Lord Farquaad in Shrek. His extensive career includes two Academy Award nominations (The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment) and six Emmy wins across projects like Dexter, Amazing Stories, and 3rd Rock from the Sun.

His addition to the Harry Potter series places him in the footsteps of Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, and Jude Law—actors who previously portrayed different versions of Dumbledore across the films.

The upcoming series, slated to premiere on Max in 2026, is being developed as a "faithful adaptation" of Rowling’s books. Francesca Gardiner (Succession, His Dark Materials, Killing Eve) will serve as showrunner, with Mark Mylod (Game of Thrones, The Last of Us) set to direct multiple episodes.

J.K. Rowling is also attached as an executive producer. With Lithgow confirmed as Dumbledore, anticipation for the series is heating up. Now, all eyes are on who will step into the iconic roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione as the show prepares for its next major casting announcements.

Source: Entertainment Weekly