John Lithgow has played everything from Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha to an extraterrestrial patriarch in 3rd Rock from the Sun. Next he will be the powerful, wise, and compassionate professor Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter TV show. He confirmed the casting in a recent interview, saying it will “define me for the last chapter of my life.”

John Lithgow arrives at the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Earlier this week, Lithgow was announced to take on the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” television series.

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.

HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series has found its Professor Albus Dumbledore in actor John Lithgow — known for his previous roles in “Conclave,” “The Crown” and “Footloose.” Lithgow confirmed to Screenrant that he had committed to the role as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Discovery announced that a Harry Potter TV series was in the works. Updates on the HBO show have been shared sporadically, but it seems that it’s truly starting to take shape. To that point, it was reported earlier this month that John Lithgow was being eyed for the role of Albus Dumbledore.

The Harry Potter TV show has its first bit of confirmed casting news after John Lithgow broke his silence on taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore. There were some rumors the part was initially going to Mark Rylance, but Lithgow has been the main name in contention for the past two weeks.

When asked about the offer to play Dumbledore, Lithgow described the decision as "not easy," recognizing it could define the final phase of his illustrious career.

John Lithgow has been cast as Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter series, raising skepticism about an American actor playing an iconic British character.