John Lithgow said he found the criticism of his casting as Albus Dumbledore “odd,” and questioned why J.K. Rowling’s controversy should factor into his decision. In remarks reported in April 2025, he also contrasted the messages he received about the Harry Potter adaptation with the response he recalled to playing Roald Dahl in the stage play Giant.
What Lithgow said about the backlash
In an interview attributed to The Times, Lithgow said: “I thought, why is this a factor at all? I wonder how JK Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her and I’m curious to talk to her.” The Independent reported the remarks on 28 April 2025; The Standard published a corroborating account the same day. These are reports of the interview, not a transcript of it.
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Lithgow has been cast as Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts headmaster, in the Harry Potter television adaptation. He also described the decision as a substantial commitment: “Of course, it was a big decision because it’s probably the last major role I’ll play. It’s an eight-year commitment so I was just thinking about mortality and that this is a very good winding-down role.”
Why the casting drew criticism
The coverage linked criticism of Lithgow’s casting to J.K. Rowling’s public comments about transgender people and her association with the adaptation. A friend of Lithgow’s who has a trans daughter reportedly sent him an article titled “An Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter.” The detail about the letter comes from the interview accounts; it is not independently verified correspondence.
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Lithgow’s question—why the controversy should be a factor in his choice—describes his own view of the decision. The reports do not establish a measured scale of public reaction or a representative count of people who objected.
Why he compared Dumbledore with Roald Dahl
Lithgow contrasted the messages he received about Rowling with the response he recalled when he agreed to play Dahl in Giant: “No one complained when I agreed to play Dahl, but I’ve received so many messages about JK Rowling. Isn’t that odd?” The Independent and The Standard both reported the comparison.
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The comparison is about Lithgow’s recollection of the reactions to two roles, not evidence that the controversies or public responses were equivalent. The roles differ: Dumbledore is part of a television adaptation, while Dahl was portrayed by Lithgow in a stage play. The reports describe Dahl as an antisemite, but provide no comparable figures for reaction to either casting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is established about the story
The remarks and the Dahl comparison were reported in April 2025, not newly made on the current date. TV Insider’s 28 April 2025 account provides historical context and distinguishes an earlier response to casting criticism from this later interview discussion. Rolling Stone Australia reported further context about the project on 3 May 2025. None of these accounts establishes current production status, a release schedule or viewing availability.
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