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John Lithgow’s casting as the quintessentially English character Dumbledore in HBO’s forthcoming “Harry Potter” series has raised eyebrows, given his American origins. Yet, Lithgow is undeterred by the criticism, assuring fans that he is prepared to embrace the role fully.
In a recent interview, Lithgow emphasized his commitment to perfecting the character’s accent by working closely with a dialect coach. “He’s certainly an Englishman,” Lithgow remarked, acknowledging the heated discussions surrounding the decision to cast an American actor in such a traditionally British role.
Highlighting his experience, Lithgow referenced his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the acclaimed Netflix series “The Crown,” suggesting that he has navigated similar challenges before. “I’ll spend some time with a dialect coach. Don’t worry about that,” he stated confidently. “Dumbledore couldn’t possibly be anything other than English. I just have to do my best.”
The actor expressed optimism, recalling how well he was received by his British co-stars during “The Crown,” stating, “I was welcomed by every English actor I worked with. They had far more confidence in me and my Englishness than I did myself.”
As for the details surrounding the “Harry Potter” series, HBO has kept tight-lipped, revealing minimal information thus far. Besides Lithgow, the casting of Paapa Essiedu, known for his role in “I May Destroy You,” is confirmed for the character of Severus Snape. Snape, who serves as a formidable adversary to Harry Potter, was previously portrayed by the late Alan Rickman, leaving behind a legacy that will be challenging to match.
Filming for the series is set to commence in the summer of 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, the same location that was used for the original eight “Harry Potter” films. Lithgow disclosed in his interview that his work on the show is anticipated to begin in August.
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www.thewrap.com