Veteran actor John Lithgow has addressed his decision to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series, despite pressure for him to ditch the role due to J.K. Rowling’s divisive comments on trans issues.
In comments reported by Variety, Lithgow said he found Rowling’s views “ironic and inexplicable” when contrasted with the Harry Potter stories, but refused to be told he should “walk away from the job.”
“I take the subject extremely seriously,” Lithgow began. “She has created this amazing canon for young people and it has jumped into the consciousness of the society. It’s about good versus evil, kindness versus cruelty. I find her views ironic and inexplicable. I’ve never met her, she’s not really involved in this production at all. But the people who are, are remarkable.
“It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this,” he continued. “But in ‘Potter’ canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She’s written this mediation of kindess and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.
“It was a hard decision. It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.”
Recent years have seen Rowling become one of the most prominent figures in the discourse over transgender issues. Lithgow’s response follows a similar comment from Hagrid actor Nick Frost, who was also questioned over why he accepted the role.
“She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine,” Frost told The Observer previously, “they just don’t align in any way, shape or form.”
As for Rowling herself, the author was recently asked if she would fire Paapa Esiedeu, the actor set to play Severus Snape in HBO’s series, due to his signing of a petition calling for the U.K. entertainment industry to better protect the trans community. “I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did,” Rowling replied. “I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
The subject has also led to a complicated relationship between former Hermione actress Emma Watson and Rowling. Speaking on a podcast last year, Watson said she no longer wanted to “weaponize a really toxic debate and conversation,” disagreed with cancel culture, and eventually hoped to reconcile with the author “one day.” Rowling however fired back by saying Watson was “ignorant of how ignorant she is,” and adding that “adults can’t expect to cosy up to an activist movement that regularly calls for a friend’s assassination.”
HBO’s Harry Potter series will debut in 2027, and adapt the franchise’s seven books into at least seven seasons of television.
Image credit: Lionel Hahn/Getty Images.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
