John Lithgow defends Dumbledore casting in Harry Potter admitting fans are ‘appalled’

John Lithgow has defended being cast as Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter TV show.

The actor, 79, who played Winston Churchill in The Crown, faced criticism after news broke he would be portraying the Hogwarts headmaster in the HBO adaptation of JK Rowling’s famous books.

Many weren’t convinced at the idea of an American actor being cast as the British wizard – backlash John acknowledged on tonight’s episode of The One Show.

Appearing on the show to talk about his role as Roald Dahl in the West End play Giant, John was asked by Alex Jones about his new Potter role.

‘Very excited, very intimidated,’ John said, adding, ‘I will be following the great Michael Gambon,’ referencing the late actor who portrayed the wise wizard for five films following Richard Harris’ death.

‘I am not an Englishman but I have played one on TV,’ he said, adding: ‘I’d like to remind everyone I’ve played Winston Churchill and did just fine.’

Nodding to the criticism, he continued: ‘It’s an enormous thrill. I know there were plenty of people appalled that an American was hired to play the ultimate English wizard, but I will do my best.’

When news came of the casting, John said that the role came as a ‘total surprise’ to him, adding that it was not an easy decision to accept the part ‘because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life’.

Six characters have now been cast in the TV reboot, set to hit our screens in 2026 – almost 30 years after the first book was published in 1997, and 15 years on from the final film’s release.

I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu, 34 has now been confirmed as the brand new Severus Snape, stepping into the mighty shoes of the late Alan Rickman.

Meanwhile Hot Fuzz actor Nick Frost, 53, will be starring as Hogwarts groundskeeper and half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, while Tumbleweeds actress Janet McTeer, 63, will be the stern but brilliant Head of Gryffindor House, Minerva McGonagall.

Luke Thallon will play the stuttering Quirinus Quirrell, who appears in The Philosopher’s Stone.

Argus Filch’s new face has also been confirmed as Paul Whitehouse, 66, who has previously starred in the likes of The Fast Show, Harry & Paul and Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

As for the main three characters – Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger – we are yet to find out who will replace Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. However, 32,000 children are reported by the BBC to have auditioned for the role. 

Aside from John’s casting, the TV series has been divisive on the whole, with some saying they plan to boycott it due to creator Rowling’s comments about the trans community. 

Rowling, 59, has been criticised by some fans for expressing views that have been described as transphobic by the LGBTQ+ community and civil rights groups.

Today Rowling responded to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the definitions of ‘sex’ and ‘woman’ in Equality Act 2010 refer to ‘biological sex’.

The ruling by the UK’s highest court means that trans women with gender certificates can be barred from single-sex areas.

In a post on X, Rowling wrote: ‘It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot, I’m so proud to know you.’

However many people have taken to social media to criticise the ruling, calling it ‘extreme discrimination’.

‘Trans rights are being stripped away under the pretence of defending women’s rights. Trans women are women. There should be no separate law for cis and trans women,’  Sophie Molly, a Scottish trans rights campaigner, told Metro earlier today.

‘To have such a thing take effect is extreme discrimination… We will overcome. We will never give in.’

The One Show airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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