John Lithgow has clearly cast a spell over Harry Potter producers as it is confirmed he is the first major signing for a new TV series based on the JK Rowling novels.

The Crown actor has been confirmed as the new Professor Dumbledore in the upcoming wizarding HBO series, which is due out in 2026.

The 79-year-old star has said stepping in to the shoes of the magical headmaster, first played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, ‘came as a total surprise to me’.

‘I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival, 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.

‘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.’

John Lithgow has clearly cast a spell over Harry Potter producers as it is confirmed he is the first major signing for a new TV series based on the JK Rowling novels 

The character, played by Michael Gambon in the final six of eight Harry Potter films, is the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts and a mentor to the тιтle character

Lithgow recently received a fresh round of critical acclaim for his major role in the Oscar hopeful Conclave (pictured)

Dumbledore, the fictional headmaster of Hogwarts and a mentor to the тιтle character, has become one of the most-beloved characters among fans of Rowling’s original books and the film series.

Lithgow — who has been nominated for back-to-back Best Supporting Actor Academy Awards for The World According To Garp and Terms Of Endearment — recently received a fresh round of critical acclaim for his major role in the Oscar hopeful Conclave.

Though Lithgow is an American, which would be a departure for the series after the original films featured an almost exclusively UK-based cast, Dumbledore wouldn’t be his first British character.

Lithgow nabbed his sixth and most recent Emmy Award for playing former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Netflix’s hit drama The Crown.

More recently, Lithgow has been portraying the writer Roald Dahl on stage in London in the play Giant, which explores the writer’s infamous antisemitism.

Some fans were not happy about the casting of an American actor to play the British character though, particularly given JK Rowling’s insistance that the cast of the original films be British.

Taking to X, fans wrote: ‘I can’t understand why John Lithgow is the new Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter HBO series. Dumbledore is British, Lithgow is from the USA.’

‘Nothing against John Lithgow, but Dumbledore and the whole Harry Potter franchise is British.’

The 79-year-old American will be following in the footsteps of two esteemed actors to play the wizard in the Harry Potter films: the late stars Richard Harris (pictured), who died in 2002 at 72, and his successor, Michael Gambon, who died in 2023 at 82

HBO defendeded JK Rowling after Gen Z launched a pile on the Harry Potter author over her views on transgender issues 

‘I love John Lithgow. Absolutely bananas they’re not hiring a British actor to play Dumbledore.’

‘WarnerBros quite literally need to pull something out of their hat to save Harry Potter. John Lithgow as Dumbledore certainly feels like it’s going to put a lot of people off wanting to watch it. Whatever happened to keeping it all British?’  

The new Harry Potter television series promises a deeper exploration of the wizarding world.

Initial reports have suggested each season would cover one book, but HBO boss Casey Bloys has hinted the series could run for ’10 consecutive years,’ casting doubt on the one-season-per-book format.

Screenwriter Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on Succession, will serve as showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes and also executive producing.

‘This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have cherished for years,’ Bloys said, ᴀssuring audiences it will be ‘a faithful adaptation’.

Some fans were not happy about the casting of an American actor to play the British character

Lithgow’s comment makes him the first actor to be confirmed for the Harry Potter TV show’s cast.

Severus Snape is also close to being casted, with reports pointing to the role going to I May Destroy You and Gangs of London’s Paapa Essiedu, 34.

Another name being thrown by fans is Marriage Story’s Adam Driver, 41, largely down to his long black hair matching JK Rowling’s description of the character in the books.

Bad Sisters actress Sharon Horgan, 54, and Black Widow’s Rachel Weisz, 54, are also being considered for the role of stern-yet-kind Hogwarts professor Minerva McGonagall.

It comes as JK Rowling had to defended by HBO after Gen Z launched a pile on the Harry Potter author over her views on transgender issues.

The company had been inundated with complaints about JK Rowling serving as an executive producer on the new Harry Potter TV series.

Severus Snape is also close to being casted, with reports pointing to the role going to I May Destroy You and Gangs of London’s Paapa Essiedu, 34 

Another name being thrown by fans is Marriage Story’s Adam Driver, 41, largely down to his long black hair matching JK Rowling’s description of the character in the books

Bad Sisters actress Sharon Horgan, 54, is also being considered for the role of stern-yet-kind Hogwarts professor Minerva McGonagall

So too is Black Widow’s Rachel Weisz, 54. (Pictured: Rachel Weisz attends the 6th Cannes International Festival)

In a statement to Variety, HBO said: ‘We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance.

‘JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.’

The decision to adapt Rowling’s novels has faced criticism from numerous fans, with many calling another adaptation ‘unnecessary.’

HBO boss Casey Bloys revealed in November that Rowling was ‘very, very involved in the process selecting the writer and the director.’

He noted that her statements ‘haven’t affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff’ for the show.

A spokesperson for the HBO’s parent company added: ‘We’ve been working with J.K. Rowling and in the Harry Potter business for over 20 years’ and ‘her contribution has been invaluable’.