John Lithgow has given an update on where he stands when it comes to JK Rowling‘s trans views, describing them as “inexplicable”.
Last year, the Shrek actor took on the role of Hogwarts’ Headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter TV series, currently in production. At the time the 80-year-old actor stated the series, set to film over the next eight to 10 years, will “define” his career in the “last chapter” of his life.
While attending the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) over the weekend to promote his film, Jimpa, which sees Lithgow star as a gay man living in Amsterdam, the actor was asked about his participation in the Harry Potter remake and his take on Rowling’s trans views.
“I take the subject and the issue extremely seriously,” he told an audience on Sunday. “JK Rowling has created this amazing canon for young people, young kids’ literature that has jumped into the consciousness of society. Young and old people love Harry Potter and the Harry Potter stories,” he said.
The Hollywood Reporter reports Lithgow also said Harry Potter is about “acceptance”, “good versus evil”, and “kindness versus cruelty”.
He then went on to say: “I find it ironic and somewhat inexplicable that Rowling has expressed such views,” referencing Rowling’s well publicised views on the trans community. “I’ve read about them, and I’ve never met her,” he continued.
Lithgow said Rowling is “not really involved”, however HBO CEO Casey Bloys said previously that she was “fairly involved” as an executive producer”.
The Third Rock from the Sun actor also reacted to the backlash he and the HBO remake have had in general. Fans have strongly opposed the series since its announcement over Rowling’s views. Nick Frost, who’s playing Rubeus Hagrid in the series, disabled comments on an Instagram post because of fan reaction.
“Of course, it upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to my having anything to do with this,” Lithgow said. “But if you read through the Harry Potter canon, you see absolutely no trace of transphobic sensibility. She has written this great meditation on kindness and empathy and acceptance, which is why [her views are] so strange to me.”
Describing Dumbledore as “a beautiful role”, the actor reiterated his involvement was due to the show’s creators, not the author of the source material. “There’s so much more to it than I even realised, mainly because of these people who are creating the series,” he told the IFFR audience.
And in comments that contrast somewhat with his previous remarks on the matter, Lithgow said: “It was a hard decision on the basis of that [controversy].” In 2025, Lithgow said he didn’t understand why Rowling’s comments were “a factor at all”.
And whereas before he said “heavens no” when asked if the public backlash made him think twice about accepting the role, Lithgow has now said: “It made me very uncomfortable and unhappy that people were actively insisting that I walk away from this job. But I chose not to do that.”
Rowling has become the figurehead of the so-called ‘gender-critical’ movement in the UK since an infamous post on X/Twitter in 2019 in which she defended Sex Matters pundit Maya Forstater. She has since begun sharing her views on trans people on a regular basis.
Her rhetoric has led to public divisions with former Harry Potter stars such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, David Tennant, and more, as well as a variety of pundits, politicians, and celebrities.
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