Okay, Potterheads, it’s high time we talk about HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot and John Lithgow’s casting in the role of the Hogwarts headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Well, the man has the perfect wise old wizard energy, and I can totally picture him in the iconic purple robes, dropping cryptic lines like, “Alas, earwax”. But I’m also conflicted.
I feel like HBO might be repeating history like Warner Bros. Considering how John Lithgow is currently 79 years old, and the legendary Richard Harris was 72 when he passed away, leaving us to adjust to Michael Gambon’s very aggressive Dumbledore, I think the same fate might befall the Harry Potter reboot.
John Lithgow’s Dumbledore casting is perfect for HBO’s Harry Potter reboot
79-year-old veteran legend John Lithgow has been cast as Albus Dumbledore in the HBO reboot of Harry Potter (via People). And I’m honestly losing my mind over the book accuracy of the literary character. I mean, Lithgow has got that twinkle in his eyes, the ultimate wise old wizard aura, and even the sturdy appearance that made Dumbledore invincible.
Plus, John Lithgow‘s got a range. From playing the quirky alien in 3rd Rock From the Sun to the terrifying Arthur Mitchell aka Trinity Killer in Dexter, Lithgow can pull off anything. No wonder he doesn’t seem nervous stepping into the complex role of our beloved Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. For Lithgow, the role isn’t going to be “that hard.”.
Meanwhile, I can already imagine him delivering the most iconic lines from J.K. Rowling‘s novels with effortless grace. Whether it’s him telling Harry about the Mirror of Erised, or introducing him to Fawkes the Phoenix, I think Lithgow can bring Dumbledore to life. Also, I’m super excited to see him drop crucial hints about the Horcruxes, and not to mention watch him nibble on Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Bean.
And let’s not forget the aesthetic—John Lithgow in a flowing purple robe, long silver beard, half-moon specs shimmering under the Hogwarts candles, looking every bit like the greatest wizard of all time. It seems like sheer perfection. Well, almost.
While maintaining book accuracy, I don’t want to see HBO repeat history
Now, here’s where my excitement turns into concerns. I don’t want HBO to make the same mistake as Warner Bros. We all remember how heartbreaking it was to lose Richard Harris after just two movies. He almost looked like the perfect book-accurate Dumbledore—calm, wise, and a little mischievous—apart from his frail appearance that wasn’t just selling the badass vibe.
Therefore, as Richard Harris passed away at 72, and the Harry Potter movies were a long-term commitment, they had to bring in Michael Gambon, who, although talented, gave us a very different Dumbledore. Yes, I’m still side-eyeing that Goblet of Fire moment that became meme content—”DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE?!”
So, upon doing the math, where John Lithgow is currently 79 years old, and the Harry Potter reboot is planned to run for a decade (at least)—it seems that we need a Dumbledore who can stick around long enough to guide Harry until the events of Half-Blood Prince. I don’t want to get emotionally attached to another perfect Dumbledore only to have to say goodbye too soon and adjust to a new actor halfway through the series.
It’s the worst kinda déjà vu and a few Redditors seem to agree with me. So eventually, no matter how much I love the idea of John Lithgow playing Dumbledore, I would like for the studio to consider someone a little younger—someone who can carry the role throughout the show without a sudden recasting.
Harry Potter films are available to watch on Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
