Overview

• John Lithgow, 79, confirmed his casting as Albus Dumbledore in HBO's Harry Potter series, describing it as an eight-year commitment and his final major acting role.
• Lithgow expressed surprise at the backlash, questioning why J.K. Rowling's anti-trans rhetoric is being linked to his decision to join the series.
• A friend of Lithgow, who is the mother of a trans child, sent him an open letter urging him to reconsider the role, which he described as 'the canary in the coal mine.'
• The actor noted the absence of similar criticism for his portrayal of Roald Dahl, a controversial figure, in the West End production of Giant.
• HBO leadership reaffirmed that Rowling's views have not influenced casting or hiring decisions for the series, which is set to begin production in summer 2025.