A new piece of realisticHarry Potterfan art imagines John Lithgow’s Dumbledore look in the upcoming TV show. Based on the book series by author J. K. Rowling, the HBO series is expected to premiere in either 2026 or 2027, bringing Harry’s magical story to the small screen for the first time. Though there have been no officialHarry PotterTV show castannouncements just yet,Lithgow revealed toScreenRantlast month that he has accepted an offer to play Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, with filming set to get underway later this summer.
As the wait continues for theHarry PotterTV show,u/epacsenoon Reddit now imagines what Lithgow might look like in character. The image, which appears to have been generated using X’s Grok AI system, seems to take a lot of inspiration from Michael Gambon’s version of Dumbledore, with the creation sporting a similar costume and hair/ beard style. Check out the image below:
What John Lithgow’s Casting Means For The Harry Potter TV Show
Will Lithgow’s Dumbledore Be More Accurate?
TheHarry PotterTV show has been pitched as a more faithful retelling of Rowling’s books, suggesting that Lithgow’s take on the character may end up being relatively book accurate. This includes his costume and beard, but also his personality. Though Gambon’s Dumbledore was widely celebrated in theHarry Pottermovies, there are moments, including the character’s angry reaction to Harry entering himself into the Triwizard Tournament, that stray from the source material.
John Lithgow Is Guaranteed To Fix Two Big Dumbledore Mistakes From The Harry Potter Movies
Two excellent actors played Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies, but they weren’t quite perfect. John Lithgow can bring the character balance.
Lithgow’s casting suggests thatmajor strides are happening behind the scenes when it comes to theHarry PotterTV show’s development. With filming set to get underway in England this summer, the casting process is now in full swing and potentially set to wind down as roles are finalized. In addition to Lithgow, it has been reported (but not officially confirmed) that actors Paapa Essiedu and Janet McTeer are in negotiations to play the roles of Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall, respectively. More reporting and some official announcements could arrive in the near future
In an interview withVariety, Lithgow explains how he was convinced to take the role after some initial hesitation: “My big question to them was, ‘What is new about this? Why do more with the canon when it’s already been done so well?’ They just made it all sound very new.”
Our Take On The John Lithgow Dumbledore Fan Art
Lithgow Will Make For A Good Hogwarts Headmaster
Though the image is clearly heavily inspired by Gambon’s appearance in theHarry Pottermovies, it does suggest that, once with a beard and in costume, Lithgow will very much look the part of the iconicHogwarts headmaster. In addition to sporting a suitable look for the character,Lithgow’s long and successful acting career certainly suggests that he will present a fresh and yet familiar take on Dumbledore. Although Lithgow is American, his role as Winston Churchill onThe Crownis proof that he’ll have no trouble with a British accent.
After memorable Dumbledore performances from late actors Gambon and Richard Harris, Lithgow evidently has big shoes to fill, and the same can be said for manyHarry Pottercharacters. The original cast is part of why those eight films were so successful, after all. If the image above is any indication, however, Lithgow will look right at home as Dumbledore on theHarry PotterTV show.
