John Lithgow being cast as Dumbledore in the upcoming "Harry Potter" series is more significant than you might think

"It's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid." John Lithgow is heading to Hogwarts. The 3rd Rock From the Sun star confirmed recent rumors that he'll be playing Professor Albus Dumbledore on HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter TV series in an interview with Screenrant published Tuesday.

HBO’s Harry Potter series casts John Lithgow as Dumbledore, and the actor responds to concerns that he’s an American undertaking the role.

When asked about the offer to play Dumbledore, Lithgow described the decision as "not easy," recognizing it could define the final phase of his illustrious career.

One thing about John Lithgow that is undeniable is that he is very much not English. Nevertheless, he's been picked to play the very, very English icon Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series.

Lithgow's casting breaks tradition of British actors in Harry Potter, sparking debate. HBO's American casting decision opens more opportunities for diverse talent in series. Auditions for lead trio ongoing, with Paapa Essiedu as Snape and Cillian Murphy as Voldemort rumored.

John Lithgow has confirmed that he will portray the Hogwarts headmaster in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series, which will begin filming this summer. Lithgow, 79, said in an interview with ScreenRant that the invitation to play the beloved character came “as a total surprise.”

John Lithgow has recently been confirmed to be taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the new 'Harry Potter' series, which created buzz and a lot of witty reaction online.