A top US actor will be playing Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter series. Emmy-winning star John Lithgow, 79, will be taking on the role previously played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. Fans can't wait for the new series to start on HBO, which will once again be adapted from J.K Rowling's staggeringly successful books.
There has been much speculation about who would take on the role of Albus Dumbledore after Harris and Gambon's epic portrayal in the film franchise. But now Lithgow has confirmed he's got the gig as he spoke of his excitement. He said: "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.".
Joking about how long the series would take to film, he added to Screen Rant: "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.". Lithgow is well-known for TV roles, including 3rd Rock From The Sun (as Dick Solomon) and Dexter (as The Trinity Killer). He also received Oscar nominations for his performances in The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment and played Winston Churchill in from 2016 to 2019.
It was announced last year that there would be a HBO series of Harry Potter and fans of the wizard have been waiting patiently ever since for more information. The series which comes 23 years after the franchise's first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first released, will explore each book in depth over a planned 10-year run. Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content, assured fans of a "faithful adaptation.".
Early reports suggest each season would cover one novel, but the 10-year timeline hints at possible deviations or expanded storytelling. Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on BBC's His Dark Materials and Killing Eve, will be the showrunner and writer for the series. Meanwhile, Mark Mylod, who worked on HBO's Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, will direct several episodes for HBO and Warner Bros' streaming service, Max.
Another well-known name on the team is David Heyman, who produced all of the Harry Potter movies and the Fantastic Beasts films. WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the juiciest celebrity news to your phone by joining our Celebs WhatsApp here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
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