American actor John Lithgow has addressed the backlash he's faced for portraying Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series on Max, which draws from J.K. Rowling's popular books. While critics have lauded his performances in films like Bombshell, Interstellar, and the series The Crown, a number of dedicated Wizarding World fans are not thrilled about an American taking on the role of the quintessential British wizard.

John Lithgow pays tribute to the legacy of Michael Gambon

During an appearance on The One Show with the BBC, Lithgow, known for his role as Winston Churchill in The Crown on Netflix, addressed some concerns. Reflecting on Michael Gambon's impressive legacy, he noted that he feels he is stepping into the shoes of a remarkable actor. Gambon famously portrayed Dumbledore in six of the original Harry Potter movies. In the same interview, Lithgow candidly shared that he isn't British, even though he has depicted British characters on screen. He also pointed out that he successfully played Winston Churchill in The Crown.

Even though there were some initial concerns, he assured fans that he was completely dedicated to the role. Lithgow did acknowledge that it's an exhilarating experience. He knows that a lot of people were shocked by the choice of an American to play the classic English wizard. Still, he's set on putting in his utmost effort.

Staying dedicated to the role even with fan criticism

In a laid-back March chat on the SmartLess podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, Lithgow opened up about landing the role of Dumbledore. He compared Dumbledore's power to that of a nuclear weapon, emphasizing that the character speaks only on very rare occasions. Lithgow mentioned to People that he doesn't anticipate the role being too challenging, suggesting it will involve a lot of back-and-forth.

The new series, led by writer-showrunner Francesca Gardiner, features Lithgow alongside a talented cast that includes Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.

Dumbledore's Journey on Screen

Over the years, different actors have portrayed Dumbledore. Richard Harris was the first to take on the role in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, but he sadly passed away in 2002. After that, Michael Gambon took over starting with The Prisoner of Azkaban, leaving a lasting mark on the character's legacy in film. More recently, Jude Law depicted a younger version of the Hogwarts headmaster in the Fantastic Beasts series.

Lithgow's remarks could really help ease the worries of fans who are feeling both anxious about the changes and thrilled to return to the enchanting world of Hogwarts in the reboot.

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