A new Harry Potter series is set to hit screens in the near future and now the actor who will be taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore has been officially confirmed
A leading American actor is set to cast a spell as Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter series.
Fans are buzzing with excitement yet again as Emmy winner John Lithgow, 79, gears up to take on the magical mantle that Richard Harris and Michael Gambon have previously donned.
The new adventure will kick off on HBO, inspired by the spectacularly successful books penned by J. K Rowling. With much chatter surrounding who would step into the shoes of Albus Dumbledore following Harris and Gambon’s iconic stints, the revelation that it’s Lithgow taking the helm has electrified the Potter fandom.
Speaking about landing the role, he revealed: “Well, it came as a total surprise to me. I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid. But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter.”
He also quipped to Screen Rant about the filming duration: “That’s why it’s been such a hard decision. I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”
Best known for his TV work, including portraying Dick Solomon in ‘3rd Rock From The Sun’ and The Trinity Killer in ‘Dexter’, Lithgow has also clinched Oscar nods for ‘The World According to Garp’ and ‘Terms of Endearment’, and recently portrayed Winston Churchill from 2016 to 2019, reports the Mirror.
Last year’s buzz about an HBO Harry Potter series has had fans of the magical saga on tenterhooks, with them eager for more details. The upcoming series, landing 23 years after the first flick, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, hit cinemas, is set to delve deep into each book over a whopping 10-year stretch.
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, has promised Potterheads a “faithful adaptation.” Early whispers hinted that each season would tackle one tome, but with a decade-long game plan, we could be in for some juicy plot twists or beefed-up tales.
Francesca Gardiner, who’s spun stories for BBC’s His Dark Materials and Killing Eve, is taking the reins as showrunner and writer.
Meanwhile, Mark Mylod, famed for his directorial magic on HBO’s Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, will helm several episodes for HBO and Warner Bros’ streaming platform, Max. And let’s not forget David Heyman, the producing powerhouse behind all the Harry Potter blockbusters and the Fantastic Beasts series.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
