John Lithgow calls JK Rowling controversial Thoughts on the transgender community HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series has been “distorted” as backlash continues.
Lithgow – which is determined Play Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore In “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”” TV Reboot – believes that the response to Rowling’s comments has not always been accurate, despite disagreeing with most of what she has said.
talking to New Yorker Radio HourThe 80-year-old actor revealed that he was urged to walk away from the project, but “I wasn’t going to do that.”
He said, “I just felt that the reasons for doing so were much stronger than the reasons for opposing what Rowling has done and said.”
“I disagree with most of it. I think most of it has been distorted, and he has doubled down on it at his own expense.”
Explaining why he took on the role, Lithgow said: “Everything about the job and job security in my final years was fascinating. You know, you don’t ignore those issues.
“The whole subject of Rowling’s alleged bias, it came up after everything was already underway. I had already said yes.”
The “Giant” star also emphasized that the creative team — not Rowling — attracted him.
“I have not met him,” he said. He also said that showrunner Francesca Gardiner “convinced me, she was a big reason why I accepted it.”
Nevertheless, he did not hold back from giving his personal response to the author’s rhetoric, saying that he was “surprised and disappointed” by the tone of her social media posts.
Earlier this year, Lithgow made similar comments while speaking at the Rotterdam Film Festival, where she called Rowling’s views “ironic and inexplicable”, while emphasizing that the books themselves tell a very different story.
“In the ‘Potter’ canon, you don’t see any trace of transphobic sensitivity,” he said. “He wrote this meditation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.”
This debate has spread to Hollywood too Andrew Garfield recently referred to Rowling as “she who shall remain nameless”. and accused them of supporting “inhumane” causes.
“I know it’s controversial. And, as you know, we should not be putting money into the pockets of Inhumane Law at this time, who shall remain nameless,” Garfield told Hits Radio, referencing “Harry Potter” villain Voldemort, known as “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”
He added, “But the spirit and the essence of a lot of those films and the children’s themes are very good.” “We can’t throw out the baby with the bathwater, there are a lot of beautiful actors who have worked in those movies.”
Rowling’s outspoken views on transgender issues have caused disagreements between the author and Many stars of the original films.
Last May, Rowling wrote a sharp essay When several “Harry Potter” actors signed a pro-trans open letter after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” solely refer to a biological woman and biological sex.
He described the actors – among them Eddie Redmayne, Papa Essiedu and Katie Leung – as “backstabbing colleagues” who he said are “driven by fear.”
Essiedu was already receiving death threats after he was announced as Severus Snape in the HBO series, leading to increased security around the production.
Rowling has continued to champion the reboot, recently responding to a fan praising the early footage: “It’s going to be incredible. I’m so happy with it.”
The new “Harry Potter” series is expected to debut on HBO in Christmas 2026 and stream on HBO Max.
