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HBO ‘Harry Pottery’ Actor Addresses Fan Concerns About His Casting
John Lithgow, the newly cast Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO series “Harry Potter,” has addressed fan concerns about his casting. In an interview with BBC’s The One Show, Lithgow expressed understanding of the backlash he faced due to being American and playing a quintessential English character.
However, I would argue that the controversy surrounding his casting is misplaced. Lithgow brought up his previous role as Winston Churchill on “The Crown,” where he received critical acclaim for his performance. He emphasized that he will do his best to honor the iconic character while acknowledging the concerns of fans who were upset about him being an American playing the part.
Despite this, I believe the real controversy lies in Lithgow’s age at 79 when starting a project that is likely to run well over a decade. Given the show’s plan to adapt all seven books, it would be impossible for Lithgow to finish the role without being in his 90s. This raises questions about his health and commitment to the long-term project.
Lithgow is an excellent actor, but starting such a massive undertaking at 79 is quite a challenge.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/04/19/hbo-harry-potter-actor-addresses-fan-concerns-about-his-casting/
