John Lithgow almost quit Harry Potter over JK Rowling's trans views

"Lithgow emphasised that he views the Harry Potter story itself as being "on the side of the angels, against intolerance and bigotry," and said he believed his own work, including performances in Garp and Jimpa which are connected to queer characters and themes, made his values clear."

"The actor acknowledged that some criticism, including from members of the LGBTQ+ community, had been difficult, noting he briefly considered leaving the project before deciding to stay. He said he now expects in "every interview I will ever do for the rest of my life this will come up"."

"In an interview with The New York Times, Lithgow said he has never met JK Rowling and does not share her views on transgender issues. Rowling has drawn sustained criticism in recent years for statements about gender identity."

John Lithgow has responded to criticism regarding his casting as Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming seven-season Harry Potter series launching in 2027. In an interview with The New York Times, Lithgow clarified that he has never met JK Rowling and does not share her views on transgender issues. He emphasized that the Harry Potter narrative itself stands against intolerance and bigotry, and pointed to his previous work with queer characters and themes to demonstrate his values. Lithgow acknowledged receiving difficult criticism from LGBTQ+ community members and briefly considered leaving the project before deciding to continue. Other cast members including Johnny Flynn and Nick Frost have also faced backlash for joining the reboot.

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