Veteran actor John Lithgow, known for his roles as Arthur Mitchell in Dexter and Winston Churchill in The Crown, has officially confirmed that he will portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. The actor recently shared his excitement about the role, acknowledging that the decision was not an easy one.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Lithgow revealed that he was approached for the role while attending the Sundance Film Festival. “It was a complete surprise,” he admitted. “I received the call while I was at Sundance for another film, and I had to think long and hard about it. This is a role that will likely define the later years of my career, which is both exciting and a little intimidating. But in the end, I couldn’t say no.”

Speculation about Lithgow’s involvement had been circulating for some time, and now that his casting is confirmed, fans eagerly await news on who will play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

For those unfamiliar, Albus Dumbledore is the wise and revered headmaster of Hogwarts, serving as a mentor and protector to Harry Potter. The character was first played by Richard Harris in the early films before Michael Gambon took over. A younger version of Dumbledore was portrayed by Jude Law in the Fantastic Beasts series.

Production for the HBO adaptation is set to begin this summer, with a planned release in 2026.