It appears John Lithgow spilled the (Bertie Bott’s Each Taste) beans about his involvement in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” collection.
The Oscar-nominated “Terms of Endearment” actor revealed this week that he’s certain to enter the magical halls of Hogwarts and be part of the TV reboot in a pivotal position. Lithgow, 79, confirmed to Display screen Rant in an interview printed Tuesday he’s set to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. To Lithgow, the casting “came as a total surprise.”
“I’m very excited,” he advised the web site. “Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to ‘Harry Potter.’ That’s why it’s been such a hard decision.”
He added: “I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”
Lithgow revealed the casting on his personal phrases greater than per week after Deadline reported the veteran actor was in last negotiations to star because the highly effective wizard and professor, beforehand portrayed by late actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. The latter, who died in September 2023, took over the position after Harris died in 2002.
The “Interstellar” star appears to be the primary actor to publicly share his involvement within the upcoming collection. HBO, which has stored a lot concerning the “Harry Potter” reboot beneath wraps, didn’t instantly reply to The Instances’ request for affirmation Tuesday. A consultant for Lithgow additionally didn’t instantly reply to The Instances.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the dad or mum firm of HBO and Warner Bros. Footage, which produced and distributed the “Harry Potter” movie franchise, introduced the collection in April 2023 as a “faithful adaptation” of British creator J.Okay. Rowling’s novels. Rowling, who has confronted backlash in recent times for her transphobic feedback, is on board as an govt producer.
“We’re so excited to enter this rich universe and explore some incredible characters in a series format,” Casey Bloys, chairman and chief govt of HBO and Max Content material, mentioned on the time.
Rowling’s works have lengthy proved profitable for Warner Bros. Discovery. The unique movie franchise starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint and dominated field places of work. The studio additionally produced an (ultimately ill-fated) film adaptation of Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts” collection of novels and continued tapping the world of “Harry Potter” for different tasks together with a baking competitors collection. HBO celebrated the twentieth anniversary of “Harry Potter” in 2022 with an emotional reunion particular.
For the reason that 2023 reveal, HBO has been tight-lipped concerning the manufacturing. Potterheads have for essentially the most half relied on commerce studies to be taught extra concerning the collection, from its showrunners (“Succession” duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod) to its open casting name for a brand new Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
HBO is anticipating the collection to debut in 2026 or 2027, Deadline reported.
