Actor John Lithgow, playing Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter series, defended his role despite J.K. Rowling’s trans comments, stressing the show’s commitment to acceptance.

Actor John Lithgow, cast as Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s eight-season Harry Potter series, expressed confusion over J.K. Rowling’s public comments on transgender issues, calling them “ironic and inexplicable” given the franchise’s themes of acceptance and kindness. Speaking at the Rotterdam Film Festival, Lithgow emphasized that Rowling is not involved in the production and that the show’s creative team, whom he praised, is committed to honoring the original stories’ values. Despite backlash, including from a friend with a transgender child, Lithgow said he chose to remain in the role, describing it as a significant career opportunity. The series, set to premiere in early 2027, stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.