Harry Potter News: John Lithgow may have just confirmed his casting as Dumbledore

It's been tough to pin down casting for the upcoming HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter series. Every couple of days, I've gotten an alert that fans are deeply divided or fans demand the casting of or fans slam the ridiculous choice. Allegedly, we have proof that Peter Capaldi is Dumbledore and Adam Driver is the only choice for Severus Snape. And none of them have panned out thus far. We're all excited to see if the "fan cast" efforts play out and it certainly shows the level of enthusiasm for a return to the wizarding world. It's also been almost amusing to read HBO's repeated assurances that they will tell fans and detractors alike when there's official news. One actor may have just blown that cover.

What exactly did John Lithgow say?

In an interview with ScreenRant, American actor John Lithgow was goaded into talking about the rumors that he would be Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

"John, you've got a lot of books back there...I'm curious, do you have any Harry Potters back there?" asks Liam Crowley. With a genial laugh, John replies, "Not yet." He's then asked directly about the claim that he will play the headmaster previously depicted by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. The famously comedic actor's credits include 3rd Rock from the Sun and Shrek fans will recognize him as the voice of Lord Farquaad. More recently, he has made his mark in the Oscar-nominated Conclave and portrayed a corporate predator in Bombshell. The casting of an American would be a game-changer for the series, as it opens up the possibility of other nationalities being represented in major roles. The films famously stayed true to the national origins of the characters.

Lithgow then gave a frank and touching explanation of how he sees the decision to accept a role in Harry Potter:

"Well, it came as a total surprise to me. I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes."

John Lithgow

We can hope that this is the final word on the matter, but it has yet to be formally announced by HBO. When any casting is confirmed, we will have much more to say, but for now, we can continue to hope for good news.