John Lithgow Considered Quitting HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Over J.K. Rowling Backlash: It Will Come Up in ‘Every Interview’ for the ‘Rest of My Life’
John Lithgow revealed he almost backed out of playing Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series due to the backlash surrounding J.K. Rowling's controversial statements about transgender people. The veteran actor expressed concern that questions about Rowling's views would follow him for the rest of his career. Lithgow clarified he has never met Rowling and does not agree with her stance on transgender issues.
He seriously considered leaving the project because he knew Rowling's controversial views would dominate every interview for the rest of his career. While he has never met the author personally, he wanted to make clear that he does not share her perspective on transgender issues.
The Harry Potter franchise continues to generate significant revenue and cultural impact despite the ongoing controversy. Many argue that the creative teams and actors working on adaptations shouldn't be held responsible for the original author's personal views, especially when they've distanced themselves from those positions.
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John Lithgow Says He Almost Backed Out of Playing Dumbledore in HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Over J.K. Rowling Backlash
The Hollywood Reporter
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John Lithgow Considered Quitting HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Over J.K. Rowling Backlash: It Will Come Up in ‘Every Interview’ for the ‘Rest of My Life’
r/entertainment
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John Lithgow Considered Quitting HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Over J.K. Rowling Backlash: It Will Come Up in ‘Every Interview’ for the ‘Rest of My Life’
Variety
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John Lithgow Considered Quitting ‘Harry Potter’ Over J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views
Deadline