The Harry Potter series is set to release on Christmas and will adapt the book series of the same name by JK Rowling.
The show will follow young wizard Harry Potter and his friends’ journey through their years at Hogwarts.
Along with the students, the show will also feature the professors, including Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. John Lithgow stars as Dumbledore, and despite the actor having played numerous characters in his career, Lithgow felt pressure when he first began playing the character.
John Lithgow on the pressure of playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series
The first teaser of Season 1 of the upcoming Harry Potter series has been revealed, and it gave us a look at several characters, including Albus Dumbledore, played by John Lithgow. It is an understatement to say that Lithgow has an extensive career. He is known for his roles in Dexter, The Crown, The Manhattan Project, Interstellar, and Killers of the Flower Moon, among others. However, as Lithgow said on his recent appearance on the TODAY show, he still gets nervous regarding some new roles.
On the TODAY show, John Lithgow spoke about his experience working on the Harry Potter set and how it felt to play Dumbledore. He was then asked if he felt nervous about playing the character. Lithgow responded,
“Terrified. The first I worked on the show was two night shoots in a row and you’re always a little bit addled doing that by three in the morning.”
He continued,
“I knew that this was the first thing I did and the first scene on Privet Drive and I knew that whatever I do now, I’ve set the template for the next several years. I better do it right. I’ve done a lot of acting in my day, but I still get stage fright.”
As John Lithgow rightfully said, his first appearance on screen as Albus Dumbledore is going to set the standard for the years to come. HBO intends to make multiple seasons of the show, with each season adapting one book of the book series in chronological order. Thus, Lithgow is expected to be playing Dumbledore for quite some time.
It is only natural to feel nervous when one begins to play a character. Given how popular Dumbledore is among fans of the franchise, his nervousness is justified and reflects how serious he is about playing the character. As seen in the trailer, Lithgow embodies Dumbledore beautifully. Since the actor is evidently putting in a lot of effort into playing the character, the chances of fans loving him are high.
The Harry Potter series is directed by Mark Mylod, while Francesca Gardiner serves as showrunner and an executive producer.
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Edited by Nimisha