John Lithgow addresses why he chose not to quit HBO’s Harry Potter series amid JK Rowling trans backlash
"The whole subject of Rowling's imputed prejudice, it came up sort of after everything was already underway," said Lithgow
By Aaron Sugg
John Lithgow has spoken out about why he decided not to walk away from HBO’s new Harry Potter TV series in light of JK Rowling‘s transphobic views.
Coinciding with the first teaser trailer for the TV series, set to land on HBO at Christmas 2026, the preview for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is based on Rowling’s first of seven books.
Lithgow, who is set to star as Albus Dumbledore, previously described taking the role as a “hard decision” given Rowling’s constant gender-critical hate towards the trans community.
“In ‘Potter’ canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity” – John Lithgow on the new Harry Potter TV series
Speaking previously to Variety, he said he has not met Rowling, nor does she have a predominant role in the new TV series, adding: “It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in ‘Potter’ canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity.”
Lithgow has again spoken out about his decision not to leave the TV series in an interview with The New Yorker, saying he found out about Rowling’s views after filming was well underway.
“The whole subject of Rowling’s imputed prejudice, it came up sort of after everything was already underway. I’d already said yes,” said the 80-year-old actor.
“I was urged to walk away, and I was not about to do that” – Lithgow explaining his decision to not leave the Harry Potter series
“I was urged to walk away, and I was not about to do that,” Lithgow added. “I just felt the reasons to do it were much, much stronger than the reasons to protest against what Rowling has done.”
He said he disagrees with many of Rowling’s views, dubbing them “twisted and misrepresented,” adding she has “doubled down on it… at her own cost.”
He said he is surprised by the “cruelty” with which she expresses her views online, especially on X, adding that he is “disappointed” by the acclaimed author’s controversial views.
Pedro Pascal has previously spoken out against JK Rowling’s anti-trans rhetoric
Lithgow is one of many celebrities to speak out against the Harry Potter author’s anti-trans rhetoric, most notably Pedro Pascal, who condemned her comments.
He dubbed her an “awful, disgusting shit is exactly right. Heinous loser behaviour.” His comment went viral, so much so that he spoke about it in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“It’s a situation that deserves the utmost elegance so that something can actually happen, and people will actually be protected. Listen, I want to protect the people I love. But it goes beyond that. Bullies make me fucking sick,” he said.
Former Harry Potter actors have publicly disagreed with her stance such as lead actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.