John Lithgow has admitted he almost quit the upcoming Harry Potter TV series over the J.K. Rowling backlash. He will play Albus Dumbledore in the (somewhat) much-anticipated reboot. That said, the controversy surrounding J.K.’s anti-trans rhetoric has been difficult for the actor to move past.
John Lithgow knows “every interview” will include questions about the controversial author
Speaking to The New York Times, John said that while he doesn’t agree with the famous author’s stance on transgender issues, he believes the Harry Potter books themselves are “clearly on the side of the angels, against intolerance and bigotry.”
But John revealed he’d been “stung” by the backlash he got after announcing his role in the show. Because of the online reaction, the actor “considered quitting the series but decided not to.”
Acknowledging his divisive decision to stay on the show, John said he knows that the subject of J.K. will come up “in every interview” he will “ever do” for the “rest” of his life.
John is not the only Harry Potter actor who has attempted to distance themselves from J.K.’s anti-trans beliefs.
Paapa Essiedu (set to play Severus Snape in the new series), signed an open industry letter on exactly that. It called for industry action on trans rights and demanded that institutions such as BAFTA and the BBC commit to protecting and including trans people.
Cast members of the original film series have also taken a hard stance against the Harry Potter writer. Daniel Radcliffe told The Atlantic in 2024 that he had cut contact with J.K. for some time, adding: “I will continue to support the rights of all LGBTQ people.”
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW HARRY POTTER TV SERIES? AND, WILL YOU WATCH OR BOYCOTT IT?
