.. copy-and-pasted from the website: "The Independent" .. .. .. .. article written by Kevin E G Perry .. .. 1 hour ago .. .. .. fantasic, astounding, spectacular news.. about John Lithgow .. ..

The Independent 1.3M Followers John Lithgow confirms Dumbledore casting, says role will ‘define the last chapter of my life’ Story by Kevin E G Perry • 1h • 2 min read GettyImages-2195563370.jpg GettyImages-2195563370.jpg © Getty Images John Lithgow has confirmed he will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter novels. The Hogwarts headmaster was previously portrayed by Richard Harris in the first film adaptations, The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. His death in 2002 saw Michael Gambon take over the role for the remaining films. Try This Reverse Mortgage Estimator if You're Over 55 CHIP Reverse Mortgage Try This Reverse Mortgage Estimator if You're Over 55 Ad Jude Law played a younger version of Dumbledore in two films in the prequel franchise Fantastic Beasts, The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore. Speaking to Screen Rant, 79-year-old Lithgow said the casting news “came as a total surprise to me.” He continued: “I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. “But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That’s why it’s been such a hard decision. I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.” The TV adaption, confirmed by HBO Max in 2023, aims to be a “faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer JK Rowling.” The series is expected to run for a decade, each season based on one of the seven books. Lululemon - Team Canada Future Legacy Mini Belt Bag - Neon|Red lululemon Lululemon - Team Canada Future Legacy Mini Belt Bag - Neon|Red Ad While casting calls for the three young leads — Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger — opened in September 2024, HBO has been scouting for older actors over the past few months to play adult characters such as Dumbledore and the primary villain Voldemort. In November 2024, reports said producers were angling for Oscar-winning star of stage and screen Mark Rylance for the role of Dumbledore. A couple of months earlier, Gary Oldman, who played Harry Potter’s godfather Sirius Black in the original film franchise, said he would be up to playing Dumbledore. In December, reports suggested I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu was the top choice to play Potions professor Severus Snape, played last by Alan Rickman in the film franchise. The same month, rumors suggested Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein was being tapped to star as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid, who was originally played by Robbie Coltrane. Try This Reverse Mortgage Estimator (Only If You're Over 55) CHIP Reverse Mortgage Try This Reverse Mortgage Estimator (Only If You're Over 55) Ad Nearly 32,000 children have sent audition tapes for the lead roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but no casting announcements have been made yet. The Independent has always had a global perspective. Built on a firm foundation of superb international reporting and analysis, The Independent now enjoys a reach that was inconceivable when it was launched as an upstart player in the British news industry. For the first time since the end of the Second World War, and across the world, pluralism, reason, a progressive and humanitarian agenda, and internationalism – Independent values – are under threat. Yet we, The Independent, continue to grow. Current Time 0:07 / Duration 0:38 The Independent Return to Hogwarts: Harry Potter 20th Anniversary HBO special trailer released 0 View on Watch View on Watch Ad The Independent Visit The Independent Shocking video shows Southwest plane and private jet nearly colliding at Chicago Midway Airport Trump to auction off citizenship via his ‘gold cards’ for $5 million to foreigners who create jobs Influencer arrested after leaving Nobu party drunk and causing deadly crash, police say Ad S