John Lithgow Unfazed by J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views, Joins ‘Harry Potter’ Series!

Despite the backlash against J.K. Rowling by fellow artists such as Nicola Coughlan, Pedro Pascal, and David Tennant, and amidst the growing anti-trans sentiment from the current presidential administration, John Lithgow finds himself puzzled over how Rowling’s controversial views should impact his choice to portray Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.

In an interview with The Times U.K., the star of Conclave expressed his surprise at the negative reaction to his casting and mentioned that the public disapproval has not deterred him from proceeding with the role.

“I kept thinking, why should this even matter? I’m curious about how J.K. Rowling is handling all this criticism. I assume I’ll eventually meet her and I’m eager to see what she thinks,” he commented. When questioned if the backlash had influenced him, he replied, “Oh, heavens no.”

The seasoned actor also mentioned he was unfazed even when a close friend, who is the parent of a transgender child, sent him an article titled “An Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter.” He acknowledged that this was a significant early warning of the backlash that was to come.

Lithgow shared that he was completely unprepared for such strong condemnation, stating, “No, absolutely not. It was a major decision because this could very well be the last significant role I take on. It’s an eight-year commitment, so I was really considering my own mortality and thinking that this would be an excellent role to cap off my career.”

The Tony, Golden Globe, and recently awarded Olivier Award winner, who is currently portraying Roald Dahl in Giant at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre, also found it perplexing that his decision to play the notoriously antisemitic author sparked no controversy.

“It’s strange that no one objected when I chose to play Dahl, but I’ve received numerous messages about J.K. Rowling. Isn’t that peculiar?” he remarked.

Previously, Lithgow had addressed concerns from Harry Potter fans about his ability to effectively portray the iconic professor and mentor in the magical universe. He reassured The Times U.K. about his initial reservations concerning whether an American actor would be accepted in such a traditionally British role.

“I will be following the great Michael Gambon. I’m not English, though I’ve portrayed one on TV,” he said during an earlier interview on BBC’s The One Show. “I remind everyone that I portrayed Winston Churchill on The Crown and that turned out quite well.”

As Deadline previously reported, HBO chairman Casey Bloys has confirmed Rowling’s extensive involvement in the series as an executive producer. He also sidestepped questions about Rowling’s controversial views, stating, “That’s a very online conversation, very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to delve into. Our focus is on what appears on the screen. Clearly, the Harry Potter narrative is incredibly affirming and revolves around themes of love and self-acceptance. That’s what we’re prioritizing — what’s on screen.”