John Lithgow, the man, the myth, the legend, is officially donning the half-moon spectacles and a robe so fabulous it would make any fashion-forward wizard weep. That’s right—he’s stepping into the wise (and let’s be honest, sometimes delightfully chaotic) shoes of Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series!
The 79-year-old actor, known for his Shakespearean chops and occasional alien antics (3rd Rock from the Sun, anyone?), confirmed the magical gig in an interview, and let’s just say, he’s feeling the weight of the elder wand.
This Just In: Lithgow Didn’t See It Coming
“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” he confessed. “I was just chilling at the Sundance Film Festival, minding my own business, when I got a phone call. Next thing I know, I’m signing up to spend the next decade being extremely wise and cryptic. It wasn’t an easy decision—this will pretty much define me for the last chapter of my life. But hey, at least I get a cool hat.”
Lithgow, who is currently not 150 years old (but give it time), admitted, “I’ll be about 87 by the time we wrap this thing up. Hopefully, they let me use a real broom by then instead of CGI.”
Seven Seasons of Shenanigans Incoming
The Harry Potter reboot, produced by Max (not to be confused with a Max—though if a guy named Max was behind this, we’d salute him), is expected to launch in 2026 or 2027 and will run for seven glorious seasons. Lithgow is the first actor officially announced, which means we still have no clue who’s playing Harry, Snape, or which poor soul will have to keep a straight face while portraying a sentient hat.
In the meantime, Lithgow has some homework to do—mostly mastering the art of dramatically whispering “Alas, earwax.”
And so it begins. Mischief managed.
