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The Dumbledore actor says Rowling’s views have been “twisted and misrepresented,” and the author has “doubled down at her own cost.”
By James Hibberd
Writer-at-Large
Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone star John Lithgow is once again clarifying his views on J.K. Rowling.
The actor, who plays Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO series, spoke to The New Yorker Radio Hour last week about the fantasy author, who has been widely criticized for her trans views.
Explaining why he took on the role, the 80-year-old actor said, “There was everything attractive about the job and job security into my late years. You know, you don’t ignore those issues. The whole subject of Rowling’s imputed prejudice, it came up sort of after everything was already underway. I’d already said yes.”
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Lithgow said, as he’s expressed previously, that he was urged to walk away from the project, but, “I was not about to do that.”
“I just felt the reasons to do it were much, much stronger than the reasons to protest against what Rowling has done and said,” Lithgow added. “I do disagree with much of it. Much of it I think has been twisted and misrepresented, and she has sort of doubled down on it at her own cost.”
Lithgow didn’t elaborate on what had been misrepresented about Rowling’s views. He also said he has met with the author and executive producer about the character and suggested she’s not very involved with the series.
The news follows the Harry Potter teaser trailer breaking HBO records, with 277 million views in 48 hours (which is just slightly less impressive than Amazon’s first trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power getting 257 million views in 24 hours back in 2022).
Lithgow’s comments also follow actor Andrew Garfield defending watching Harry Potter films despite Rowling’s views. “I know we shouldn’t be putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through She Who Shall Remain Nameless, but the soul and spirit of those films … the kids are so good,” Garfield said. “And all the artisans — I’m working with a wonderful makeup artist right now, Clare [Le Vesconte] who was working in the creature workshop [on the films]. And I’m like, oh man, we can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, there are so many beautiful artists who worked on those films.”
Rowling also recently responded to a fan who wrote that the teaser trailer “looks bloody marvelous.” Rowling replied, “It’s going to be incredible. I’m so happy with it.”
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone also stars Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid (here’s the full cast).
Francesca Gardiner (Succession) is the showrunner and Mark Mylod (Game of Thrones) will direct several episodes.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres Christmas 2026 on HBO and will stream exclusively on HBO Max.
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