Dumbledore Actor Argues J.K. Rowling’s Views Have Been “Misrepresented”

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John Lithgow, known for playing a role in the original Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film, recently discussed the ongoing debate surrounding author J.K. Rowling. During an interview on The New Yorker Radio Hour with David Remnick, Lithgow reaffirmed his commitment to the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series, where he will play Albus Dumbledore, despite the controversy.

John Lithgow, in the behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Harry Potter series, Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic Special, called the stories a remarkable success and praised HBO’s new adaptation for offering a fresh perspective. Recently, however, discussions have returned to his involvement with the project, a topic that frequently comes up in interviews, including his recent conversation on The New Yorker Radio Hour.

Dumbledore Star Lithgow Defends His Role In HBO’s Harry Potter

John Lithgow recently discussed taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter adaptation on The New Yorker Radio Hour. He explained that the job was appealing both creatively and for its stability, something he considered important for his career at this stage. He added that concerns about J.K. Rowling’s views arose after he had already accepted the role.

Lithgow explained that he felt very strongly about playing Dumbledore, even more so than his concerns about J.K. Rowling’s controversial statements. He stated that his reasons for taking the role far outweighed his objections, and while he disagrees with many of Rowling’s views, he believes some have been misinterpreted or exaggerated, and she has continued to defend them despite the negative consequences.

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I was so fascinated to hear John Lithgow talk on The New Yorker Radio Hour. He explained he hadn’t actually met J.K. Rowling, but what really drew him to this project was the incredible team behind it. He specifically mentioned Francesca Gardiner, the showrunner, and Mark Mylod, the director – you might know him from hits like Succession and Game of Thrones – as being major reasons he signed on. They clearly have a great vision!

I haven’t met her yet. What’s really great about the Harry Potter project is the team working on it, especially Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod. They work incredibly well together. In fact, Francesca was the main reason I decided to get involved – she convinced me it would be a good project.

Lithgow didn’t explain what specifically he thinks is wrong with how people are understanding J.K. Rowling’s views on gender. He previously described those views as “ironic” and “inexplicable” after his film, Jimpa, was shown at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

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2026-04-09 02:34