No need for a Revelio—John Lithgow has fully embraced his role as Professor Albus Dumbledore on the set of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.
The 79-year-old actor was seen filming on Tuesday, complete with a long white beard and flowing, oversized robes.
John Lithgow Spotted Filming HBO’s Upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ Series
Lithgow was seen on a beach, sporting a pair of glasses perched on the bridge of his nose—classic Dumbledore style.
This is the first time the 79-year-old actor has been photographed on set since production began in July. The cast has been filming across various locations in England over the past three months.
John Lithgow in Character for HBO’s New ‘Harry Potter’ Series
Other on-set photos also captured Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Lithgow’s casting was first announced in February, and fans quickly embraced Hogwarts’ newest addition. After Pop Base shared the news on X, one user wrote, “He is perfect for the role!” while another added, “A brilliant actor in drama and comedy—he’ll make a great wizard! It would be amazing if the show runs for nine seasons!”
John Lithgow Spotted in Classic Dumbledore Costume
Adding to the fan excitement, one follower joked, “John Lithgow as Dumbledore? A magical casting choice for sure.”
Lithgow confirmed the news in an interview with ScreenRant, saying, “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.”
Nick Frost as Hagrid with Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter
“I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter,” Lithgow said. “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.”
The series is set to premiere in 2026, with each season adapting one of J.K. Rowling’s seven Harry Potter books. If the show follows a one-season-per-year schedule, Lithgow would finish the series in 2033 at age 87.
Dumbledore has a storied legacy in Hollywood. In the first two Harry Potter films, the role was played by Richard Harris, followed by Michael Gambon after Harris passed away in 2002.
Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter
Jude Law previously played a younger version of Dumbledore in the two Fantastic Beasts prequels.
While the original main trio—Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Emma Watson as Hermione, and Rupert Grint as Ron—were all from the UK, this new HBO adaptation features a more internationally diverse cast. Alongside Lithgow and McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton has been cast as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley.
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“After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron,” said series director Mark Mylod and showrunner Francesca Gardiner.
“The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen,” they added. “We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.”
All three stars are newcomers, with Dominic McLaughlin’s only prior acting credit being the film Grow.
Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin, and Alastair Stout
Stanton previously starred as Matilda in Matilda The Musical on London’s West End.
J.K. Rowling is also involved in the series, despite past controversies surrounding her anti-transgender remarks. HBO CEO Casey Bloys confirmed at a November press event that the 59-year-old author serves as an executive producer.
“She’s been fairly involved—she was very involved in the process of selecting the writer and the director,” Bloys told reporters at the time.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson
“I imagine she’ll have opinions on casting,” Bloys added. “It hasn’t affected the casting or hiring of writers or production staff or anything, so we haven’t felt any impact from that.”
