TV’s most obvious cash grab is trying to get us where we’re weakest: Our enduring appreciation for the work and warmth of John Lithgow. This is per Deadline, which reports that Warner Bros. Discovery is closing in on a deal to cast the legendary actor—recently of Conclave and “John Lithgow gets his dick out” family drama Jimpa—in the brewing HBO TV adaptation of the Harry Potter novels, as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
This news is somewhat surprising, in so far as actor Mark Rylance was already supposedly circling the part; no paperwork had been signed on a Rylance deal, but those kinds of details don’t usually start popping up until things are very nearly a done deal. Lithgow is, undeniably, a much bigger name than Rylance, at least in his native U.S.. (Although it’s kind of weird that they’re looking to cast an American actor in the role of one of the iconic British wizards; is it possible producers just watched Lithgow as Winston Churchill in The Crown and got confused?) We’re honestly more surprised that the actor would want to commit himself to something that’s likely to stretch from here to infinity as WBD tries to squeeze every drop of blood out of this particular Philosopher’s Stone. (Reported plans for the show are to cover one of the seven Potter books per season, meaning the 79-year-old Lithgow would likely be pushing 90 by the time a Deathly Hallows season aired.)
The studio itself has declined to comment on the casting rumors, saying that it’ll only issue statements once deals are set in stone. Warner Bros. has been openly developing the Harry Potter series since 2023 (with rumors circulating for at least two years beforehand), presumably after it realized people really and truly did not give a shit about Fantastic Beasts and where they might be found. The series has drawn widespread excitement from people who like the most money being doled out for the least idea, and who a) do not care that there are already 8 perfectly adequate Harry Potter movies covering the series in detail, and b) that author J.K. Rowling‘s more recent creative ventures—i.e., spewing transphobic garbage on social media—have taken a big magical wizard crap all over the franchise’s reputation.
