Fans have their first real look at John Lithgow as the wise Headmaster of Hogwarts. New photos from the set of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series show the actor in full costume as Albus Dumbledore, sporting the character’s iconic long beard and robes. The images, which surfaced online this week, have generated significant excitement and speculation about the new direction of the beloved story.
The set photos reveal Lithgow on a beach location, a scene that has sparked particular interest as it does not appear in the original book. This suggests the series will expand on the source material, exploring events only mentioned in passing by J.K. Rowling.
Faithful Yet Expanded Adaptation
The new HBO series, scheduled to premiere in 2027, plans to adapt all seven of J.K. Rowling’s novels, with each season dedicated to a single book. This format provides much more screen time than the original films, allowing the show to explore the wizarding world in greater depth.
Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer Mark Mylod have emphasized the benefits of a series, noting they have “8 hours to tell the first book,” which lets them “dig into the real depths and crevices” of the story. The beach scene with Dumbledore appears to be a prime example of this, filling in gaps from the original narrative.
The Mystery of the Beach Scene
The recently revealed photos show John Lithgow as Dumbledore standing on a beach in Cornwall, England, in full wizard attire. The scene has become a major topic of discussion among fans, as a beach visit is not described in the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
One prominent theory is that the scene shows a previously unseen meeting between Dumbledore and the immortal alchemist Nicolas Flamel, the creator of the Philosopher’s Stone. Supporting this, Lithgow was also photographed on location with actors playing Flamel and his wife, Perenelle—characters who never physically appear in the original books or movies.
This new scene could depict the moment Dumbledore convinces Flamel to give up the Philosopher’s Stone for safekeeping, first in Gringotts bank and later at Hogwarts. The inclusion of such moments allows the series to provide context for key plot points that the films had to omit.
John Lithgow Embraces a Defining Role
For John Lithgow, taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore was a significant decision. The actor admitted that the casting “came as a total surprise” and acknowledged the part’s long-term impact.
“It’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid,” he told ScreenRant. “But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That’s why it’s been such a hard decision. I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party.”
Lithgow also addressed the discussion around an American actor playing such a quintessentially British wizard, reassuring fans by referencing his prior work.
“I know there were plenty of people appalled that an American should be hired to play the ultimate English wizard, but I will do my best,” he told BBC’s The One Show. “I remind everyone that I did play Winston Churchill on The Crown and did just fine.”
A Fresh Cast for a New Generation
The series features a completely new cast, with young actors Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The adult cast includes Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Frost and McLaughlin were previously spotted filming the iconic scene where Hagrid brings Harry to Diagon Alley for the first time. The series is currently shooting across various locations in England, including Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
Return to Hogwarts
The Harry Potter television series is one of the most expected projects in development. With J.K. Rowling serving as an executive producer, the show aims to be a faithful adaptation of the books while also introducing new scenes and character moments that will surprise even the most dedicated fans.
The first season, covering Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is expected to run for eight episodes. As production continues, more reveals are expected to build excitement for the show’s debut on HBO in 2027.
Also Read: Andrew Garfield Addresses Fan Campaign to Cast Him as Harry Potter’s Remus Lupin
Credits: IGN, E! News, New York Post
