HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter reboot has stirred major buzz after leaked photos showed veteran actor John Lithgow dressed as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Snapped during filming on a beach in Cornwall, England, the photos—first shared on Reddit by user u/i-tiresias—show Lithgow in Dumbledore’s iconic flowing robes and silver beard, hinting at the show’s cinematic scale. The series is set to premiere in 2027, and will span seven seasons, each covering one book from J.K. Rowling’s beloved saga.
The viral images prompted immediate fan speculation. One Redditor asked, “What scene does Dumbledore have on the beach? Only one I can think of is maybe the HBP seaside cave thing, but that’s way later in the series.” Another joked, “Is this the scene where Dumbledore becomes the Bay Harbor Butcher?”
Lithgow’s imposing stature also caught attention. “He looks massive in that second picture,” one fan commented, while another quipped, “It looks like they have him on a really long leash, like they’re letting him play in the sea for a bit as a treat.” According to Metro and Screen Rant, Lithgow was not just walking the shore—he was rehearsing lines from cue cards, signaling serious prep for the role.
The series features a mix of seasoned actors and fresh faces. Joining Lithgow are Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost, with newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout playing Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
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Despite ongoing controversy over J.K. Rowling’s views on gender identity, HBO and Warner Bros. are moving forward with the project. As one Redditor summed up: “It’s a shame that my love for John Lithgow could never outweigh my loathing for JKR.”
Still, the excitement around the new series—and Dumbledore’s beach moment—is undeniable.
What do we think about John Lithgow as #Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter?? pic.twitter.com/dFe0KdFyYU
— Movie Media (@MovieMediaX) October 8, 2025
