The new Harry Potter series for HBO has already begun filming and will be released in early 2027.
Almost the entire cast of the Harry Potter TV series has already been announced during 2025. The series aims to further expand the wizarding universe, with a story that is even bigger than the one developed in the eight film adaptations.
With all these comments about the series and Harry Potter once again becoming a hot topic, J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender women are also being widely discussed in all social media.
Variety asked Lithgow about the series and how the actor feels about playing the role for eight years, even knowing about the controversial statements about trans people made by Rowling, the author of the book series: “I take the subject extremely seriously. She has created this amazing canon for young people and it has jumped into the consciousness of the society. It’s about good versus evil, kindness versus cruelty. I find her views ironic and inexplicable. I’ve never met her, she’s not really involved in this production at all. But the people who are, are remarkable. It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in ‘Potter’ canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She’s written this mediation of kindess and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.”
Lithgow was also honest and said that he had been advised not to accept the role as Dumbledore: “It was a hard decision. It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that”, stated Lithgow. “I’m the oldest person in this entire room, just turned 80. And yet I signed a contract – I will be playing Dumbledore for the next eight years! I absolutely have to keep at it. I felt: ‘Wow! That means I will live to be 88.’ I have that in writing.”