The actor called it “ironic and somewhat inexplicable” that Rowling has expressed transphobic views after writing a series about “good versus evil.”

John Lithgow defends starring in Harry Potter series amid J.K. Rowling backlash: ‘She’s not really involved’

The actor called it "ironic and somewhat inexplicable" that Rowling has expressed transphobic views after writing a series about "good versus evil."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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February 1, 2026 4:17 p.m. ET

John Lithgow; J.K. Rowling. Credit:

Dave J Hogan/Getty;Michael Loccisano/Getty

John Lithgow is addressing his decision to play Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming *Harry Potter* series despite backlash sparked by J.K. Rowling's controversial anti-trans views.

"I take the subject and the issue extremely seriously," the 79-year-old actor insisted during an onstage discussion of Sophie Hyde’s queer family drama *Jimpa* at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), per *The Hollywood Reporter*. "J.K. Rowling has created this amazing canon for young people, young kids’ literature that has jumped into the consciousness of society."

He continued, "Young and old people love *Harry Potter* and the *Harry Potter* stories. It’s so much about acceptance. It’s about good versus evil. It’s about kindness versus cruelty. It’s deeply felt."

Lithgow added that he finds it "ironic and somewhat inexplicable that Rowling has expressed such views" and noted that he has never spoken to her about said remarks.

"I’ve read about them, and I’ve never met her," Lithgow explained. "She’s not really involved in this production at all. The people who are re-adapting *Harry Potter* and turning it into an eight-year-long TV series are remarkable… These are people I really want to work with."

John Lithgow; Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Murray Close/Warner Bros.

Rowling has long been criticized by LGBTQ+ organizations and members of her own fan base for espousing hurtful rhetoric that is tied to the TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) movement, which posits the belief that trans women are not women. Meanwhile, Lithgow has played several queer and transgender characters across his career, even earning an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of trans woman Roberta Muldoon in *The World According to Garp.*

Upon discovering that Lithgow had accepted a role in the series as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, many fans expressed outrage and disappointment. But the actor continues to vehemently defend his decision to sign on for the planned eight-season saga.

"Of course, it upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to my having anything to do with this," Lithgow said on stage at IFFR. "But if you read through the *Harry Potter* canon, you see absolutely no trace of transphobic sensibility. She has written this great meditation on kindness and empathy and acceptance, which is why it’s so strange to me."

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Lithgow continued, "Dumbledore is a beautiful role. There’s so much more to it than I even realized, mainly because of these people who are creating the series. So it was a hard decision on the basis of that [controversy], and it made me very uncomfortable and unhappy that people were actively insisting that I walk away from this job. But I chose not to do that."

Reflecting on the state of U.S. and global politics overall, Lithgow added, "Now, we’re in the midst of a war on empathy, and I’m on the side of empathy."

In April, Lithgow admitted that he was surprised by the backlash to his casting, sharing that he realized the gravity of the situation when he received a text from "a very good friend who is the mother of a trans child," linking him to a Book Riot op-ed entitled, *An Open Letter to John Lithgow: Please Walk Away from Harry Potter*.

John Lithgow at the 2024 SAG Awards.

Frazer Harrison/Getty

"I thought, 'Why is this a factor at all?'" Lithgow said at the time. "I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I’ll meet her, and I’m curious to talk to her."

He added that the criticism has not soured his excitement over the role.

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In the years since Rowling began espousing anti-trans rhetoric, several *Harry Potter *stars — including franchise leads Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson — have spoken out against her, in support of the trans community.

Echoing Lithgow's perspective, HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys has maintained that the *Harry Potter* TV show hasn't "felt any impact" from Rowling's anti-transgender views, insisting, "It hasn't affected the casting or hiring of writers or production staff or anything."

For her part, Rowling has explicitly stated that as she continues to financially benefit from the *Harry Potter* and wider Wizarding World franchise, she will continue funding legal cases, foundations, and policy that seek to limit the rights of transgender women. The author has even dipped into her wealth for the founding of the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund, which supports individuals and organizations "fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights."

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