Did John Lithgow blow his 'Harry Potter' cover? Actor confirms he will play key role in HBO reboot

It seems John Lithgow spilled the (Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor) beans astir his engagement successful HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series.

The Oscar-nominated “Terms of Endearment” histrion revealed this week that helium is bound to participate the magical halls of Hogwarts and articulation the TV reboot successful a pivotal role. Lithgow, 79, confirmed to Screen Rant successful an interrogation published Tuesday helium is acceptable to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. To Lithgow, the casting “came arsenic a full surprise.”

“I’m precise excited,” helium told the website. “Some fantastic radical are turning their attraction backmost to ‘Harry Potter.’ That’s wherefore it’s been specified a hard decision.”

He added: “I’ll beryllium astir 87 years aged astatine the wrapper party, but I’ve said yes.”

Lithgow revealed the casting connected his ain presumption much than a week aft Deadline reported the seasoned histrion was successful last negotiations to prima arsenic the almighty wizard and professor, antecedently portrayed by precocious actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. The latter, who died successful September 2023, took implicit the relation aft Harris died successful 2002.

The “Interstellar” prima seems to beryllium the archetypal histrion to publically stock his engagement successful the upcoming series. HBO, which has kept overmuch astir the “Harry Potter” reboot nether wraps, did not instantly respond to The Times’ petition for confirmation Tuesday. A typical for Lithgow besides did not instantly respond to The Times.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the genitor institution of HBO and Warner Bros. Pictures, which produced and distributed the “Harry Potter” movie franchise, announced the bid successful April 2023 arsenic a “faithful adaptation” of British writer J.K. Rowling’s novels. Rowling, who has faced backlash successful caller years for her transphobic comments, is connected committee arsenic an enforcement producer.

“We’re truthful excited to participate this affluent beingness and research immoderate unthinkable characters successful a bid format,” Casey Bloys, president and main enforcement of HBO and Max Content, said astatine the time.

Rowling’s works person agelong proved lucrative for Warner Bros. Discovery. The archetypal movie franchise starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint and dominated container offices. The workplace besides produced an (eventually ill-fated) movie adaptation of Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts” bid of novels and continued tapping the satellite of “Harry Potter” for different projects including a baking competition series. HBO celebrated the 20th day of “Harry Potter” successful 2022 with an affectional reunion special.

Since the 2023 reveal, HBO has been tight-lipped astir the production. Potterheads person for the astir portion relied connected commercialized reports to larn much astir the series, from its showrunners (“Succession” duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod) to its unfastened casting telephone for a caller Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

HBO is expecting the bid to debut successful 2026 oregon 2027, Deadline reported.