HBO ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Addresses Fan Concerns About His Casting

Harry Potter is now filling up at least its adult roster of cast members for the upcoming HBO series, and at least a few of the choices have raised eyebrows.

The most controversial is Paapa Essiedu, a young, great-looking black actor cast as Severus Snape, which raises a few different questions, namely how his torment by James Potter will play due to that change, plus extreme handsomeness and being 34 years old not really being suited for the adult version of the character. However, this is not the cast member in question.

Rather, that is the first cast member announced, John Lithgow, who will play Albus Dumbledore, perhaps the most central figure in the novels outside of Harry, Hermione and Ron themselves. In an interview with BBC’s The One Show, he addresses the controversy around his casting but…I would argue that wrong controversy. Lithgow talks about how people were “appalled” at his casting because he’s American:

“I will be following the great Michael Gambon. I’m not an Englishman, although I’ve played one on TV,” he said. “I remind everyone that I did play Winston Churchill on The Crown and did just fine…But yes, I mean, it’s an enormous thrill. But I know there were plenty of people appalled that an American should be hired to play the ultimate English wizard. But, I will do my best.”

Lithgow won an Emmy for that Churchill role, Supporting Actor in a drama series, but again, unless this is some huge dust-up in the UK, it feels like the issue with Lithgow isn’t being American (how many UK actors play American all the time?), it’s his age when taking the role.

John Lithgow is 79. He is ten years older than Michael Gambon when he finished filming the Harry Potter at 69. If this was a one-off Harry Potter movie it would be one thing, but we’re talking about a show that probably won’t even arrive until 2027, with a plan to do all seven books. That is absolutely not going to be seven years as A) one more or of those huge books will probably have to be broken up and B) big streaming shows essentially have 5% chance of actually airing yearly, where it’s more often 1.5-2.5 years. Being generous, Lithgow would easily finish the role at 90+. I mean if he can, more power to him, but it’s certainly an odd choice given the context of the role.

Lithgow is a great actor, but starting a project that is likely to run well over a decade at 79 is quite a commitment. I wish the best for him and his health.

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