John Lithgow has admitted that he doesn’t know much about the lore ofHarry Potter, but he has proven that he understands the magic of the Wizarding world. This actor, known for projects likeThe World According to Garp(1982),3rd Rock from the Sun(1996 - 2001), andThe Crown(2019-2020), has officially been cast to play Albus Dumbledore in the upcomingHarry PotterTV remake. While it would have been hoped that the stars of HBO’s series could bring a solid knowledge ofHarry Potterto their roles, enthusiasm is even more valuable.
Lithgow explained (viaCBR) that heaccepted the role of Dumbledore after theHarry Pottershowrunners detailed some of the ways the character develops from beginning to end. “They have described this to me, and I’ve got to discover it for myself and make it my own,” Lithgow said. The actor also noted that hedoesn’t know “Harry Potter canon by heart as 98% of the world’s population seems to.“While this wouldn’t typically be encouraging, Lithgow expressed a self-described “wizard-like” connection he shares with apreviousHarry Potterstarthat I find entirely charming.
He Describes This Link As “Wizard-Like”
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
In addition to honestly stating that he isn’t as familiar withHarry Potteras he could be, Lithgow expressed his admiration for actor Michael Gambon, who previously played Albus Dumbledore in the final sixHarry Pottermovies. Though Lithgow and Gambon never met, the formerwas excited to share that they had the same birthday. Gambon was born on October 19th, 1940, while Lithgow was born exactly five years later on October 19th, 1945.
Lithgow and Gambon’s sharing a birthday is a sweet fact, but it is, of course, a coincidence. However, Lithgow seems to think far more of it than just this. He said that he had always idolized Gambon andfound the fact that they shared the same birthday to be “a kind of wizard-like touch.“Lithgow may not know much about the lore ofHarry Potter, but the fact that he recognizes the subtle magic of his similarity with Gambon is quite encouraging.
Magic Is All About Destiny & Coincidences In The Wizarding World
Lithgow & Gambon’s Connection Is Poetically Fitting For The Harry Potter Franchise
Harry Potteris full of overtly magical details like wizarding duels and floating candles, but the story itself is built upon a far subtler foundation. Harry’s adventure is all about destiny and coincidences, both of which are revealed to be a sort of magic all their own. No character is a greater reminder of this than Albus Dumbledore. ThroughoutHarry Potter, he often reminded the Boy Who Lived thatit was the love of a mother, the strength of friendship, or the power of a self-fulfilling prophecy that made him the heroof the Wizarding World. Spells and incantations were only a small part of it.
If the actor understands the sort of real-world magic that Harry Potter expands on, he is far likelier to bring the Hogwarts headmaster the appropriate kind of twinkle.
Lothgow’s casting inHBO’sHarry Potterremakehas been controversial because he is an American actor and traditionally played roles incomparable to Albus Dumbledore. However, by identifying the connection between himself and Gambon as “wizard-like,“Lithgow has demonstrated an intuitive understanding of whatHarry Potterrepresents. To me, this is a great sign that Lithgow will perfectly capture Dumbledore’s character. If the actor understands the sort of real-world magic thatHarry Potterexpands on, he is far likelier to bring the Hogwarts headmaster the appropriate kind of twinkle.
John Lithgow Has A Lot To Learn About Dumbledore, But I’m Encouraged By His Enthusiasm
This New Harry Potter Actor Is Off To A Great Start
Albus Dumbledore is easily one of the most complicatedcharacters inHarry Potter, and Gambon perfectly captures different aspects of the wizard’s personality. However, I feel there is evidence in his performance that the actor didn’t fully understand Dumbledore. Of course, since Gambon started playing Dumbledore before theHarry Potterbooks were all finished, it makes sense that his earlier portrayals didn’t quite fit the complete picture. One of the benefits of HBO’sHarry Potterremake is that the complete lore is well-established. Still, if Lithgow doesn’t take advantage of this, it won’t matter.
HBO’sHarry Potterremake is expected to premiere in 2027.
Thankfully, Lithgow has already demonstrated an enthusiasm for learning more about Dumbledore’s character and the Wizarding world as a whole.Lithgow said that he must discover who Dumbledore is for himself, which seems to indicate that he will do his due diligence and explore theHarry Potterbooks on a personal level. Between this and his intuitive understanding of the real-world magic that makesHarry Potterso special, Lithgow seems to have the appropriate level of enthusiasm to make his performance great. Though only time will tell, I find this all very encouraging.
