The new Harry Potter series continues to generate considerable excitement , and although Max has yet to officially announce any cast members, all signs point to John Lithgow being poised to become the new Albus Dumbledore . This is according to the entertainment news outlet Deadline, which reports that the American actor is in negotiations to take on the role of the revered Hogwarts headmaster.
A renowned actor with extensive experience
The casting of Lithgow certainly represents a curious change, as it would be the first time a non-British actor has played Dumbledore. In the original films, the character was portrayed by Richard Harris , followed by Michael Gambon after his death. Additionally, in the Fantastic Beasts saga , Jude Law played a younger version of the wizard.
John Lithgow is an actor with a prolific career in film, television, and theater. At 79, he has won six Emmy Awards , two Tony Awards , and has been nominated for two Academy Awards . One of his most notable roles was that of Winston Churchill in the series The Crown , for which he received numerous accolades—pictured on the cover and a few lines below.
Furthermore, he has appeared in iconic series such as Dexter , where he played the terrifying killer Trinity, and The Old Man , in addition to working on recent film productions like Killers of the Moon and Conclave . His experience portraying British characters certainly reinforces his suitability for the role of Dumbledore.
A long-term commitment
Max intends for the Harry Potter television adaptation to follow a format very faithful to the books , with one season per novel . This implies a commitment of approximately a decade. With Lithgow about to turn 80, this would mean that, if his casting is confirmed, he could play the role until shortly before turning 90.
Filming is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025 at Leavesden Studios , the same location where the original films were shot, while the premiere is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
Rumors about the rest of the cast
In addition to Lithgow, other possible actors have been mentioned for the series, and we have already talked about them here. Among the most talked about rumours are:
- Paapa Essiedu (I could destroy you) as Severus Snape.
- Sharon Horgan y Lesley Manville , the Minerva mcgonagall.
- Brett goldstein (Ted lasso) as rubeus hagrid.
- Cillian Murphy , the Lord Voldemort, with the support of the own Ralph Fiennes.
As for the main characters , the casting process to find the new Harry, Ron, and Hermione is still underway. More than 32.000 children have submitted auditions to play the iconic protagonists.
Max's series aims to reinvent the story for a new generation, allowing for the inclusion of details and plot points from the books that weren't explored in the films. Expectations among fans of the saga are enormous, as you can imagine. However, for now, we have no choice but to keep waiting for hints like these to quell our burning desire for J.K. Rowling's magical universe. We'll just have to be patient.