Fans of the magical world of Harry Potter have finally seen the new Albus Dumbledore. 79-year-old John Lithgow, who plays the wise Hogwarts headmaster in the upcoming HBO series, was spotted on set in the United Kingdom. In the first released images, Lithgow appears fully in character, with a thick white beard, a long wizard’s robe, and round glasses perched on his nose — signature features instantly recognizable to fans of the franchise, reports Baltimore Chronicle, with a link to Comments.ua.
Filming is taking place along the English coastline, where Lithgow was seen during breaks between takes. This marks the actor’s first appearance in full Dumbledore costume on set. Production began in July, and the crew has already worked across multiple locations throughout England.
John Lithgow’s casting as Albus Dumbledore was officially confirmed in February 2025. The announcement thrilled fans of the saga, many of whom described him as the “perfect choice” for the iconic role. In an interview with ScreenRant, Lithgow admitted that the offer took him by surprise: “I was called during the Sundance Film Festival — and I immediately realized this would change my creative path. It was not an easy decision, but I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to be part of this magical world,” he said.
He also added that if the series runs for seven seasons, matching the number of books in the original series, he will complete the role in 2033 at the age of 87.
Albus Dumbledore remains one of the most beloved characters in J.K. Rowling’s works. In the first two films, the role was played by Richard Harris, and after his passing in 2002, Michael Gambon took over. In the Fantastic Beasts prequels, a young Dumbledore was portrayed by Jude Law.
HBO is producing a full-scale television adaptation of all seven Harry Potter books, with each season focusing on a single book. The premiere of the first season is scheduled for 2026. Company executives have promised that the series will stay closer to the original literary source than the films, while the new cast will provide fresh perspectives on familiar characters. “We want to give fans the feeling of first experiencing the magic, but in a modern form,” the producers said.
Earlier we wrote that Netflix confirms The Witcher season 4 release date for October 2025.
