Harry Potter TV series star John Lithgow reveals taking Dumbledore role was "hard decision"

John Lithgow has opened up about playing Albus Dumbledore in the forthcoming Harry Potter TV series, saying it was a “hard decision”.

It was announced that the actor would be taking on the role of the Hogwarts headmaster in HBO’s adaptation of JK Rowling’s famous books back in October, with Lithgow receiving backlash from some fans due to Rowling’s views on transgender rights.

Speaking at Rotterdam Film Festival, where his latest film Jimpa screened on Sunday (1st February), Lithgow was asked about Rowling’s statements on trans issues, to which he responded (per Variety): “I take the subject extremely seriously. She has created this amazing canon for young people and it has jumped into the consciousness of the society.”

He added that he finds Rowling’s views “ironic and inexplicable” given that Harry Potter is about “good versus evil” and “kindness versus cruelty”.

“I’ve never met her, she’s not really involved in this production at all," he continued. “But the people who are, are remarkable.

“It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in ‘Potter’ canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She’s written this mediation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.”

He added that he considered stepping down after people insisted he walk away from the role due to Rowling’s comments on transgender rights.

“It was a hard decision," he said. “It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.”

Rowling has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall.

Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which she insisted that “there are no trans kids” and opposed the idea that a child can be “born in the wrong body”.

In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to “individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights”.

Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have distanced themselves from Rowling's views and have issued statements supporting the transgender community. Others, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Jim Broadbent, have defended the author from the criticism she has received.

The Harry Potter TV series will premiere in early 2027 on HBO.

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