Despite stepping into one of the most iconic roles in the wizarding world,John Lithgowis learning there’s a lot more baggage than just spellbooks and wands when it comes to HBO’s upcomingHarry Potterseries.Lithgow, who has been cast as Albus Dumbledore in the new TV adaptation, recently admitted that when he agreed to join the show, he wasn’t thinking about the firestorm of controversy surrounding franchise authorJ.K. Rowling. In fact, speaking to The Sunday Times, Lithgow revealed he was initially focused on something else entirely: mortality.
“It was a big decision because it’s probably the last major role I’ll play,” Lithgow shared. “It’s an eight-year commitment, so I was just thinking about mortality and that this is a very good winding-down role.”
But after his casting was announced, Lithgow received an unexpected heads up. A text from “a very good friend who is the mother of a trans child” linked him to a Book Riot op-ed bluntly titledAn Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter. That’s one way to find out how people feel.
“That was the canary in the coal mine.I thought, ‘Why is this a factor at all?’ I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her, and I’m curious to talk to her.”
As for whether the backlash has made him second-guess his decision? Lithgow brushed it off easily: “Oh, heavens no.”
Controversial Figures Follow John Lithgow
Lithgow, who has a long history of playing queer and transgender characters — including an Oscar-nominated turn as Roberta Muldoon inThe World According to Garp— hasn’t directly commented on Rowling’s views. However, he did note that controversial figures seem to be following him lately. He’s currently starring asRoald Dahl, another children’s author with a complicated legacy, in the West End production ofGiant.
“It’s so interesting to me at this moment in my life, when I’ve always loved entertaining kids, that I should be engaged with these writers — J.K. Rowling and Roald Dahl — who are geniuses at entertaining kids but have had crises among adults.”
TheHarry Potterreboot has already confirmed several major cast members alongside Lithgow, includingJanet McTeeras Minerva McGonagall,Paapa Essieduas Severus Snape,Nick Frostas Rubeus Hagrid,Luke Thallonas Quirinus Quirrell, andPaul Whitehouseas Argus Filch. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
