John Lithgow, 79, rubbishes ‘odd’ backlash to HBO Harry Potter series amid JK Rowling trans row fury
John Lithgow has spoken out about the fallout surrounding the upcoming HBO adaption of Harry Potter.
The 79-year-old US actor remarked on the backlash swirling around the series and original book author JK Rowling’s stance on trans issues.
Lithgow has been cast as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, with late actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon previously playing the part.
Speaking with The Times, the actor questioned why Rowling’s politics would make him reconsider taking on the huge role.
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“I thought, why is this a factor at all? I wonder how JK Rowling has absorbed it,” he said.
Lithgow also expressed a desire to discuss the issue with the author.
“I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her and I’m curious to talk to her,” the 79-year-old added.
As well as general backlash to the series among some fans, Lithgow has received direct challenges for being involved in the project.
The actor revealed a “very good friend” with a trans daughter had sent him a piece titled: “An Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter.”
Reflecting on the backlash, Lithgow brought up his Olivier award winning performance as author Roald Dahl, who had been accused of antisemitism in the past, in the West End play Giant.
“No one complained when I agreed to play Dahl, but I’ve received so many messages about JK Rowling. Isn’t that odd?”
Even still, the 79-year-old acknowledge it was a “big decision” to take on the role of Dumbledore.
“It’s probably the last major role I’ll play. It’s an eight-year commitment so I was just thinking about mortality and that this is a very good winding-down role,” he said.
Lithgow has previously addressed fears among other fans of an American actor being cast to play “the ultimate English wizard”.
Speaking on The One Show, the actor promised to “do his best” and reminded viewers of his celebrated role as Winstone Churchill on Netflix’s The Crown.
He won both an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance as the British Prime Minister in the drama series.
The Edinburgh-based author caused a frenzy of reaction as she celebrated the UK Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex rather than acquired gender.
Rowling described the ruling as having “protected the rights of women and girls across the UK”.
“It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK,” she continued.
She then further revelled in the decision with a rare photo of herself, in which she can be seen smoking a cigar and enjoying a cocktail while on a boat.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” the author remarked.