Harry Potter Reboot Series: Is John Lithgow the new Dumbledore?

The highly anticipated Harry Potter reboot series at HBO is shaping up, and a major casting decision may have just been made. According to Deadline, six-time Emmy winner John Lithgow is in final negotiations to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore, the wise and powerful headmaster of Hogwarts.

HBO Responds to Reports

When Deadline reached out for confirmation, HBO declined to comment directly but acknowledged the speculation surrounding the project. “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals,” the network said in a statement.

A new take on the Beloved Wizard

Dumbledore has been a central figure in the Harry Potter universe, previously portrayed by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the original film series, and by Jude Law in the Fantastic Beasts prequel films. 

While Harris, Gambon, and Law are British or Irish actors, Lithgow, an American, has successfully played British characters before. He won an Emmy for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Crown and recently performed as Roald Dahl on stage in London.

What we know About HBO’s Harry Potter Series

The Harry Potter series is being developed by writer/showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod. HBO has described it as a “faithful adaptation” of J.K. Rowling’s seven-book saga, with each season covering one book. 

The project is expected to span nearly a decade, with filming set to take place at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, where the original movies were shot. The series is slated to debut in late 2026 or early 2027 on HBO & Max.

The casting process for key roles has been intense, with over 32,000 children auditioning for the parts of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Meanwhile, the rumor mill has been buzzing with speculation over other major roles, with names like Paapa Essiedu (Snape), Sharon Horgan and Lesley Manville (McGonagall), Brett Goldstein (Hagrid), and even Cillian Murphy (Voldemort) being floated by fans.