The venerable actor John Lithgow has decided to spill the beans as to his involvement in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.
The Oscar-nominated actor has revealed that he will enter Hogwarts to join the TV reboot in a pivotal role.
Lithgow, 79, confirmed to Screen Rant in an interview on Tuesday he is set to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
To Lithgow, the casting “came as a total surprise.”
“I’m very excited,” he told the website. “Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to ‘Harry Potter.’ That’s why it’s been such a hard decision.”
He added: “I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of HBO, announced the series in April 2023 as a “faithful adaptation” of J.K. Rowling’s novels.
Rowling, who has faced backlash in recent years for her transphobic comments, is on board as an executive producer.
Rowling’s works have long proved lucrative. The original film franchise starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint dominated box offices.
HBO celebrated the 20th anniversary of “Harry Potter” in 2022 with an emotional reunion special.
