John Lithgow, who will play Dumbledore on HBO's upcomingHarry Potterseries, shared that he considered leaving the show because of author and executive producerJ.K. Rowling's anti-trans views.
Lithgow received backlash for taking the job, especially after his recent role inJimpa,a queer family drama in which he plays the grandfather of trans child. Critics havecalled on him to quitthe newHarry Potterseries due to Rowling's past advocacyagainst transgender rights. Even hisJimpacostar Aud Mason-Hyde, who plays his nonbinary grandchild Frances, called his casting on the show "disconcerting."
Now, theConclavestar has told theNew York Timesthat the backlash nearly made him abandon the series. He ultimately decided to stay, saying he accepted that "every interview I will ever do for the rest of my life this will come up."
Jimpadirector Sophie Hyde, who is also the mother of Mason-Hyde, told the outlet that Lithgow's work "comes from a place of deep empathy and humanity," but that the "bigger political conversation is not one he's engaging in."
Lithgow explained that he likes exploring divisive characters, pointing to his current role as Roald Dahl in the Broadway playGiant,which grapples with the author's antisemitic comments.
"I am fascinated by every variety of human experience and want to understand it," he said. "I'm in the empathy business."
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Lithgow previouslyspoke about his decisionto stay in the role of Dumbledore during a discussion ofJimpaat the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in February. He defended his reasoning for staying and called Rowling's beliefs "ironic and somewhat inexplicable" considering the overall message in theHarry Potterbooks.
"Of course, it upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to my having anything to do with this," Lithgow said. "But if you read through theHarry Pottercanon, you see absolutely no trace of transphobic sensibility. She has written this great meditation on kindness and empathy and acceptance, which is why it's so strange to me."
The six-time Emmy said that the cast and crew of the upcoming series are "remarkable" and added that he was excited to work with them. Rowling is "not really involved with this production at all," Lithgow said.
TheHarry Potterseries is slated to premiere in early 2027.
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