John Lithgow says JK Rowling’s controversial views on the transgender community have been “twisted and misrepresented” as backlash continues to swirl around HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series.
Lithgow — who is set to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” TV reboot — believes the reaction to Rowling’s comments hasn’t always been accurate, despite him disagreeing with much of what she has said.
Speaking to The New Yorker Radio Hour, the 80-year-old actor revealed he was urged to step away from the project, but “I was not about do that.”
“I just felt the reasons to do it were much, much stronger than the reasons to protest against what Rowling has done and said,” he said.
“I do disagree with much of it. Much of it I think has been twisted and represented, and she has sort of doubled down on it at her own cost.”
Explaining why he took on the role, Lithgow said: “There was everything attractive about the job and job security into my late years. You know, you don’t ignore those issues.
“The whole subject of Rowling’s imputed prejudice, it came up sort of after everything was already underway. I’d already said yes.”
The “Giant” star also emphasized that the creative team — not Rowling — drew him in.
“I have not met her,” he said, adding that showrunner Francesca Gardiner “persuaded me, she’s the big reason I took it on.”
Still, he didn’t hold back his personal reaction to the author’s rhetoric, saying he has been “surprised and disappointed” by the tone of her social media posts.
Earlier this year, Lithgow struck a similar note while speaking at the Rotterdam Film Festival, where he called Rowling’s views “ironic and inexplicable” while stressing the books themselves tell a very different story.
“In ‘Potter’ canon, you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity,” he said. “She’s written this meditation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.”
The debate has also spread through Hollywood, with Andrew Garfield recently referring to Rowling as “she that shall remain nameless” and accusing her of supporting “inhumane” causes.
“I know it’s, like, controversial. And, like, we shouldn’t be, you know, putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through she that shall remain nameless,” Garfield told Hits Radio, referencing Voldemort, the “Harry Potter” villain known as “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”
“But the soul and the spirit of a lot of the essence of the themes of those films and the kids are so good,” he added. “We can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, there are so many beautiful artists who worked on those films.”
Rowling’s outspoken views on transgender issues have driven a wedge between the author and several stars of the original films.
Last May, Rowling penned a scathing essay when multiple “Harry Potter” actors signed a pro-trans open letter after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” refer strictly to a biological woman and biological sex.
She described the actors — among them being Eddie Redmayne, Paapa Essiedu and Katie Leung — as “back-stabbing colleagues” who she said are “motivated by fear.”
The HBO series has already led to death threats aimed at Essiedu after he was announced as Severus Snape, prompting heightened security around the production.
Rowling has continued to champion the reboot, recently replying to a fan who praised early footage: “It’s going to be incredible. I’m so happy with it.”
The new “Harry Potter” series is expected to debut over Christmas 2026 on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
