Accio Harry Potter cast details.
HBO shared insight into the casting process of its highly anticipated Harry Potter TV adaptation after speculation began swirling that John Lithgow—who’s starred in shows like Dexter, as well as movies such as Conclave and Interstellar—was in final negotiations to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in the series, which is expected to hit screens in 2026.
“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” HBO said in a Feb. 12 statement to Deadline. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
E! News reached out to HBO and a rep for Lithgow for comment but has not heard back.
And while HBO didn’t confirm whether the role of Dumbledore—previously played by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the 2001-2011 film franchise—has been filled, the network has shared several other magical details about the high-profile J.K. Rowling adaptation, which was designed to run for over a decade.
For one, Francesca Gardiner—who’s previously written for dramas including His Dark Materials and The Rook—created the series and will serve as its showrunner.