CONFIRMED: This Popular Actor Will Be Playing Dumbledore in the New 'Harry Potter' Show

It seems to be Harry Potter’s time to shine right now! Epic Universe will feature a new Harry Potter land called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic. Universal also recently announced that new wands will be available soon.

©Universal

In addition to those announcements, HBO is set to begin filming their new Harry Potter series this summer, and we just got a huge announcement about casting for the show!

According to Variety, John Lithgow has officially confirmed that he will play Dumbledore in HBO’s new Harry Potter TV series. He will be following in the footsteps of Richard Harris and Michael Gambon as he steps into the role of Hogwarts’ headmaster.

John Lithgow @IMDb

Lithgow said it was not an easy decision as it would define the last chapter of his life. While he is very excited about the role, he is also afraid, mentioning that he will be 87 at the wrap party. However, he has accepted the iconic role for the series, which is set to begin filming soon.

©Warner Bros

The new Harry Potter series was first announced in April 2023. In September 2024, we spotted a casting call for the roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, and it was also announced that the show would begin filming in the summer of 2025.

Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure

The show is planning to make each book into a season, so it is expected that there will be seven seasons of the new show. It has been a bit divisive among Harry Potter fans, as some are excited for the new show while others prefer the original movies.