“I thought, why would this be a factor?” Said the actor commenting on his decision to play Dumbledore in the new series
John Lithgow responded to the negative reaction to his participation in the series Harry Potter from the HBO. The actor of Conclave (2024) joined the cast as Dumbledore targetDespite the author’s anti-transient rhetoric JK Rowlingwhich is executive producer of the series.
Lithgow said to The Times From the United Kingdom over the weekend that potential controversy did not worry him. “I thought: Why is this a factor? I wonder how JK Rowling absorbed this. I think at some point I will know her and I’m curious to talk to her.”
He explained that he received an article entitled “An open letter to John Lithgow: Please get away from Harry Potter” of one “Great friend” who has a trans daughter. The actor called that moment of “The Canary in the Coal Mine”. Still, he was surprised by the level of criticism.
“Of course it was a big decision, because it will probably be the last important role I will play. It’s an eight -year commitment, so I was just thinking about mortality and that this is a great role to end my career.”
Lithgow added that there was no similar reaction when he interpreted Roald Dahl in the piece Giantin West End, although the author was known for his anti -Semitism.
“No one complained when I agreed to play Dahl, but I received a lot of messages about JK Rowling. Isn’t it strange?”
Harry Potter’s new series and JK Rowling’s involvement
The actor was announced as part of the cast of the series earlier this month, along with Nick Frost, Janet McTer and PAAPA ESSIDU. There was a considerable indignation regarding Rowling’s participation in production, which will be a new adaptation of books Harry Potter. THE HBO reinforced her support for her presence as a producer.
Casey BloysPresident and CEO of Content of HBO and Maxhe said:
“JK is an executive producer and his insights will be valuable. We are in the business of Harry Potter. The series is new and exciting, but we are already involved with Harry Potter 20 years ago; This is not a new decision. We are comfortable staying in the universe of Harry Potter. JK is part of a very active conversation on the internet. It is a very complex question and with many nuances, and it is not something we will enter. Our priority is what is on the screen. The story of Harry Potter It is incredibly affirmative and positive about love and acceptance, and this is our priority: what we show on the screen. ”
Rowling has been a fierce critique of trans people, often putting them at risk with their aggressive rhetoric. Several actors in the original movie series, in addition to other celebrities, have already spoken out against their treatment to trans people and their recent participation in a legal campaign in the UK to define women such as those who were born biologically female.
Last week, Pedro Pascal He harshly criticized Rowling’s anti-trans position, in response to the author to celebrate a recent decision in the UK that determined that trans women should not be recognized as women under the law of British equality. The actor’s response to Rowling was published in the comments of an Instagram video posted by the activist Tariq Ra’oufwhich highlighted Rowling’s financial connection to the for Women Scotland campaign, which eventually resulted in the decision of the UK Supreme Court.
“M#rda horrible and disgusting that’s exactly that”wrote Pascal in response to Ra’ouf’s video. “Abominable behavior of a loser.”
+++ Read More: New Hagrid disables social network comments after negative reaction with Harry Potter remake
+++ Read more: Harry Potter: John Lithgow says that playing Dumbledore ‘won’t be difficult’
+++ Read more: Pedro Pascal criticizes JK Rowling and reinforces support for the trans community
Source: Rollingstone
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