John Lithgow Says He Almost Backed Out of Playing Dumbledore in HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Over J.K. Rowling Backlash

"Every interview I will ever do for the rest of my life, this will come up," he said about navigating Rowling's controversial views on trans people.

The Hollywood Reporter

John Lithgow Considered Quitting HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Over J.K. Rowling Backlash: It Will Come Up in ‘Every Interview’ for the ‘Rest of My Life’

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/john-lithgow-considered-quitting-harry-potter-jk-rowling-backlash-1236694778/

John Lithgow Considered Quitting HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Over J.K. Rowling Backlash: It Will Come Up in ‘Every Interview’ for the ‘Rest of My Life’
#Variety #Global #News #HarryPotter #JKRowling #JohnLithgow

https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/john-lithgow-considered-quitting-harry-potter-jk-rowling-backlash-1236694778/

John Lithgow Considered Quitting Harry Potter Over JK Rowling Backlash

The New York Times revealed in a profile of John Lithgow that he "considered quitting" HBO's 'Harry Potter' series over J.K. Rowling backlash.

Variety
John Lithgow Considered Quitting ‘Harry Potter’ Over J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views

As HBO's upcoming 'Harry Potter' series continues to face backlash before it even debuts, one star is making his stance clear.

Deadline

Harry Potter, un noto attore ha quasi lasciato la serie HBO per la polemica su J.K. Rowling

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.galaxyaddicted.it/2026/03/john-lithgow-harry-potter-hbo-rowling-polemica/

RE: https://flipboard.com/@lgbtqnation/lgbtq-nation-c65vn37sz/-/a-jNkx8DwZSHKBRc4MV3gBXg%3Aa%3A3220327925-%2F0

I think #JohnLithgow means well, but he's missing the point here. #JKRowling is a bigot who uses her wealth to fund bigotry, and the new #HarryPotter series will add to her fortune.

Harry Potter, il mistero su Voldemort nella serie HBO potrebbe essere una precisa strategia

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.galaxyaddicted.it/2026/03/harry-potter-serie-hbo-voldemort-mistero/

Someone called me 'snowflake' as a trans enby when I said people shouldn't be watching Harry Potter. Claim to have 'plenty of trans friends' - yes that old chestnut. Wasn't replying to him either.

Fandom is STILL defending this shit. IT IS 2026! Have you not even read what Jo has written?

What they're saying is: HP is more important than my life? 'I can't lose this kids film! WAAAH!'

Watching the series on DVDs you own is sort of OK...I'd be wary of someone like that personally.

After what JKR has done, really I side-eye anyone who is still so attached to that series in any way especially if they claim to have 'trans friends'.

*No you fucking don't*.

And I say this as a former HP fan, I ditched that shit as soon it became clear that Jo was using her platform to attack my trans siblings, and get this - I wasn't even fucking trans then. I still thought I was cis.

Cos it's my queer family and not going to stand for that?

#jkrowling #transphobia #harrypotter

The Saga Continues: JK Rowling Just Revealed That Voldemort Came Back To Life, Used A Spell To Lift Will Smith’s 10-Year Oscar Ban, And Then Died Again

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://clickhole.com/the-saga-continues-jk-rowling-just-revealed-that-voldemort-came-back-to-life-used-a-spell-to-lift-will-smiths-10-year-oscar-ban-and-then-died-again/