“I would have liked to play Dumbledore”: this actor adored by fans of Harry Potter could not try his luck for the series

The casting of the Harry Potter series is fast approaching and it becomes more and more concrete on the side of HBO Max. The platform has unveiled the names of those who will camp the new Harry, Hermione and Ron, or Albus Dumbledore. It was the very chic John Lithgow that was chosen, after Mark Rylance decided to withdraw from the project after a personal drama.

And if there is an actor who would have liked to slip into the dress of the famous sorcerer and director of Hogwarts, it is Gary Oldman. The latter played for 3 films Sirius Black, Harry Potter's uncle. A character particularly loved by fans. He farewell to the magic saga in 2007 and never hid his desire to tread the English plateaus of Leavesden.

“I am the age that it is now”

In an interview given to Varietyhe explains: “I would have liked to play Dumbledore, I am the age that it is now. But in my opinion, they did not want to offer roles to those who played in the films. But I am intrigued by this project, especially because we had to put aside a large part of the books”.

Gary Oldman is not the only former to have made known his desire to play in this HBO Max reboot but the new producers left in a completely different direction, by focusing on little -known talents. The characters were also generally rejuvenated, to stick as close as possible to the novels of JK Rowling.

And if the interpreter of James Gordon in the Batman of Nolan could have been an interesting choice, we are still very happy with the decision of the studios. Even if it is an American actor (while the distribution is generally British), Lithgow knows how to disguise himself for a role (as in Scandal or in The Crown).

“It was not an easy decision to make because it will define me for the last chapter of my life, it scares me. But I am also very excited”he said at the time. “I will have 87 when we finish shooting, but I said yes.”

Note that the shooting of the Harry Potter series should start this summer on the other side of the Channel this summer and continue over long months. She is expected to be 2026 on HBO Max.