The ongoing issues between gender activists and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling won’t stop veteran actor John Lithgow from taking on the role of Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO series.
John Lithgow has made it clear that outside pressure will not influence his involvement in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series. In a new interview with The Times of London, the 79-year-old actor addressed the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling and the backlash he has personally received since signing on to play Professor Albus Dumbledore.
J.K. Rowling in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Behind the Scenes, Warner Bros. Pictures
Lithgow said he “absolutely” did not expect the negative reaction from Rowling’s critics but remains unfazed. “Of course, it was a big decision because it’s probably the last major role I’ll play,” Lithgow explained. “It’s an eight-year commitment, so I was just thinking about mortality and that this is a very good winding-down role.”
Before officially accepting the role, Lithgow shared that a close friend — a mother of a child who identifies differently from their birth sex — sent him an open letter about Rowling titled An Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter. John Lithgow described the letter as “the canary in the coal mine,” revealing the extent of the organized push against projects associated with Rowling.
John Lithgow as Winston Churchill in The Crown – Netflix
Despite receiving the letter and the broader criticism, Lithgow was firm when asked if the backlash made him reconsider joining.
“Oh, heavens no,” he replied, questioning why Rowling’s views on gender should impact his work.
“I thought, ‘Why is this a factor at all?’” he said. Lithgow noted he had not yet met Rowling but expressed curiosity about eventually speaking with her.
J.K. Rowling via The Rowling Library YouTube
J.K. Rowling, one of the executive producers of the Harry Potter television series, remains actively involved in the project. According to HBO CEO Casey Bloys, Rowling has played a significant role in the selection of the show’s writer and director. Bloys confirmed that while Rowling’s views have generated controversy, they have not affected casting decisions, the hiring of writers, or production efforts.
Lithgow’s casting as Dumbledore was officially confirmed earlier this year. He described the opportunity as bittersweet, admitting that the scale and duration of the commitment were factors he carefully considered.
“It came as a total surprise to me,” Lithgow said. “It’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid.”
Author J.K. Rowling reads Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone during the Easter Egg Roll on the White House South Lawn. Rowling read an excerpt focusing on Harry buying his wand from Ollivander’s. Screenshot from official White House video. Photo Credit: Executive Office of the President, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Joining Lithgow on the series are Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch. The casting for Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley has not yet been announced.
Lithgow’s defense of his decision follows actor Pedro Pascal’s recent public insult toward Rowling, where Pascal labeled the author a “heinous loser” for celebrating a United Kingdom Supreme Court ruling affirming that legal recognition of sex refers to biological sex. The ruling clarified that services designated for women—such as shelters, hospital wards, and athletic competitions—may be reserved based on birth sex without violating broader legal protections. Rowling, who has long advocated for the safeguarding of women’s spaces based on biological realities, praised the court’s decision as a vital reinforcement of long-standing protections.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Pedro Pascal speaks onstage during the Mandalorian special launch event at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 28, 2023. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Despite frequent condemnation from certain public figures and activist groups, Rowling has remained consistent in her message. As a survivor of serious personal trauma, she has publicly spoken about the importance of maintaining spaces exclusively for women, arguing that doing so protects some of the most vulnerable members of society. Rather than retreat in the face of public campaigns against her, Rowling has continued to use her platform to defend what she describes as essential rights rooted in material reality.
Far from being marginalized by her critics, Rowling remains one of the most accomplished and influential authors of the modern era. Her Harry Potter novels have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, spawning a global franchise that includes films, theme park attractions, merchandise, and now a new television adaptation. Rowling’s ability to remain commercially successful and culturally relevant, even amid sustained efforts to discredit and “cancel” her, has only reinforced her status as a significant figure in both literary and public life.
Author J.K. Rowling reads from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at the Easter Egg Roll at White House. Screenshot taken from official White House video. Photo Credit: Executive Office of the President, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The ongoing tension between public figures like Pascal and artists like Rowling highlights a growing cultural divide, with some demanding ideological conformity while others, like Lithgow, express a desire to separate personal opinions from professional endeavors. As HBO continues forward with its Harry Potter series, the debate surrounding Rowling’s participation shows no sign of fading—but neither, it seems, does her influence.
The Harry Potter series is expected to debut on HBO’s Max platform in 2026.
How do you feel about john Lithgow not being intimidated by the backlash against J.K. Rowling? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Times are a changing. 5 or 10 years ago Lithgow would have backed away from the role and apologized to LGBT, etc.
The sweet smell of hard cash. That is why he won’t back away. Being Dumbledore is one of the biggest roles in movies. The same as Professor X, Magneto, Saruman, Gandalf, Harry Potter, Geralt, etc… A massive role that could forever make him stand next to mega names like Cavill, Downey, etc… Of course he is not going to back down no matter what…
“a mother of a child who identifies differently from their birth sex”
AKA a mentally ill woman who raised a mentally ill child.
The real controversy is the race-swap. (No one cares about this alphabet thing except some irrelevant woke loud-mouths).
Hollywood does not understand the fan bases of its franchises. As for me, I’ll be adding to the backlash, that, in total, combined, costs Hollywood and its ilk billions a year.