John Lithgow accepted the emblematic role of the director of Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore in the television series “Harry Potter” of HBO, and he has no regrets.
The next television show, which will be a new story of JK Rowling’s books with a fresh casting comprising Paapa Essiedu like Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Was taken in the cross -cuttings of counterposer linked to the controversial opinions of Rowling on transgender women.
In an interview with the Times published on Sunday, Lithgow said that he was not expecting to make criticisms for playing in the series because of Rowling’s opinions.
“I thought,” Why is it a factor at all? “,” Said Lithgow. “I wonder how JK Rowling absorbed him. I suppose at a certain time, I meet her, and I am curious to speak to him.”
The actor explained that he did not think of Rowling – he thought of the two great actors, Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, who lived the role before him and died shortly after.
“It was a big decision because it is probably the last major role that I will play,” said Lithgow. “It’s an eight -year commitment, so I thought about mortality and it’s a very good winding role.”
The actor said that he had an idea of the upcoming backlash after a good friend who has a trans child had sent him an essay on Rowling’s opinions on transgender people. “It was the canary of the coal mine,” said Lithgow.
When he was asked if the situation made him think differently to play Dumbledore, Lithgow replied: “Oh, the heavens no.”
This is not the first time that Lithgow has been in a controversy project. The actor also plays in the production of the West End of “Giant”, who examines the life of the author Roald Dahl, who faced the reaction during his career to make anti -Semitic comments.
“It’s so interesting for me at the moment of my life, when I have always liked to entertain children, that I should be engaged with these writers – JK Rowling and Roald Dahl – who are geniuses in entertaining children but have had crises among adults,” he explained.
A representative of JK Rowling did not immediately respond to the request for comments from Business Insider.
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