John Lithgow sports full beard as Dumbledore in first HBO ‘Harry Potter’ adaptation set photos

John Lithgow has officially taken on the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO “Harry Potter” television series. The 79-year-old actor was recently seen on set sporting a long white beard and an oversized robe, along with the iconic glasses perched on his nose.

This marks Lithgow’s first appearance on set for the project, which began filming in July. The cast has been shooting in various locations around England for the past few months, and recent pictures also captured Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.

Fans were thrilled when Lithgow’s casting was announced earlier this year, with many expressing their approval on social media. Lithgow himself shared his excitement about the role in an interview, saying that it was a surprise but that he was looking forward to defining this chapter of his life with such an iconic character.

The new “Harry Potter” series is set to premiere in 2026, with each season adapting one of J.K. Rowling’s seven beloved books. The show will feature a more diverse cast this time around, with Lithgow as Dumbledore, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

Despite controversy surrounding Rowling’s past comments, she is involved in the series as an executive producer. HBO CEO Casey Bloys confirmed her role and mentioned that her input in casting and overall production has been positive. So far, the show’s progress remains unaffected by any outside factors.

With a talented cast and a passionate creative team behind the scenes, the HBO “Harry Potter” series is shaping up to be an exciting and magical addition to the beloved wizarding world.