Actor John Lithgow has spoken out about how surprised he is at the backlash he’s faced since being cast in HBO’s new Harry Potter series.
READ MORE: Every actor confirmed for HBO’s Harry Potter TV series
Lithgow, who will play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming TV adaptation, seemingly had little knowledge of the controversy surrounding franchise author J.K. Rowling, or any idea that his casting would cause such a reaction.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the actor told The Sunday Times that after his casting was announced, he received a message from “a very good friend who is the mother of a trans child” about an op-ed entitled ‘An Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter’.
He said: “I thought, ‘Why is this a factor at all?’ I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her, and I’m curious to talk to her.”
When asked if the criticism has changed his feelings about playing Dumbledore, he replied: “Oh, heavens no.”
Lithgow is currently starring as another controversial figure, Roald Dahl, in West End show Giant. Regarding that, he said: “It’s so interesting to me at this moment in my life, when I’ve always loved entertaining kids, that I should be engaged with these writers – J.K. Rowling and Roald Dahl – who are geniuses at entertaining kids but have had crises among adults.”
He confirmed his casting in the Potter show in February, saying that “it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life. I’ll be 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.” Speaking on the Smartless podcast in March, the actor said he didn’t think the role would be “that hard”.
The star had already received some negative responses to taking on the role, with some fans “appalled” that an American actor would be portraying Dumbledore for the first time, and others saying they “would just see Farquaad”, referencing Lithgow’s character from Shrek.
On 18 April, HBO announced several other key cast members for the show, including Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch and Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher from the first book. Who will play central trio Harry, Ron and Hermione is yet to be confirmed.
The new TV series has been mired in controversy due to J.K. Rowling receiving significant backlash for her anti-trans comments, and her support of the UK Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
Though Judge Lord Hodge stressed the ruling was not a “triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another”, the decision will undoubtedly impact transgender communities across the country.
Rowling’s stance has seen her at odds with the three stars of the Harry Potter films, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, all of whom have publicly disagreed with her views.
Pedro Pascal, who has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has a transgender sister, Lux, recently posted an Instagram comment calling Rowling a “heinous loser” after she celebrated the Supreme Court ruling.
Aside from Lithgow, other actors have also faced negative reactions from fans after announcing their involvement in Potter-related projects. Frost turned off the comments on his post celebrating his casting as Hagrid due to criticism regarding his choice to work on the Rowling-backed HBO show, and Heartstopper star Sebastian Croft responded to backlash over his role in the Potter game Hogwarts Legacy.