Today, a new report has announced that actor John Lithgow has entered final talks to star as Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series. His casting would mark the first time an American was allowed to audition for a role in the universe, as the films mandated that only actors from the UK and Ireland may be cast. Lithgow also studied acting in London, as well as starred as Winston Churchill in Netflix’s The Crown.
Mark Rylance and Mark Strong were originally rumored for the role, but both seem to have passed. The late Michael Gambon made the role famous in the original films. According to DanielRPK on Patreon, the three main actors for Harry, Ron, and Hermoine have been cast but are complete unknowns. Production begins later this summer in Leavesden, UK.
Harry Poter will debut exclusively on HBO in 2027
Source: Deadline