John Lithgow Considered Exiting Harry Potter Series Over Rowling Backlash

John Lithgow, the veteran actor cast as Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television series, revealed that he briefly considered leaving the project amid public backlash tied to author J.K. Rowling's views on transgender issues. The series, a reboot of the popular book franchise, is currently in production in the United Kingdom and slated to premiere in 2027 for a planned run of 10 seasons.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Lithgow, 80, explained that the sharp online criticism following his casting announcement last spring prompted him to reassess his involvement. He emphasized that he has never met Rowling and does not share her perspectives, describing them as "ironic and inexplicable" given the themes in her work. "I've never met her, she's not really involved in this production at all," Lithgow said earlier this year at the Rotterdam Film Festival premiere of his film Jimpa. "But the people who are, are remarkable."

Despite the initial surprise at the backlash, Lithgow ultimately chose to remain, citing the core messages of the Harry Potter books. "The books are clearly on the side of the angels, against intolerance and bigotry," he told the...