Oscar-winning actor Richard Harris portrayed Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films before his passing in 2002. Now, his son, actor Jared Harris, has shared his thoughts on whether he could take on the role in HBO's forthcoming reboot TV series. Speaking to The Independent, Jared Harris expressed not only his disinterest but also questioned the necessity of a new Harry Potter project. "I mean, why do it? I don't understand. The films were fantastic—leave them alone," he said (via Variety). However, he acknowledged that the TV series, which is reportedly set to span seven seasons, one for each book, has the potential to delve into "a lot of storytelling" that was omitted from the movies.
Those who have read the books understand that the films left out a significant amount of material. This sentiment is not exclusive to fans; actors from the original films also feel the same. For instance, Sirius Black actor Gary Oldman believes his character was underutilized, while Ginny actor Bonnie Wright found her character's limited screen time "disappointing." When asked if he would consider playing Dumbledore, Jared Harris simply replied, "No, thank you."
The Harry Potter TV series is being spearheaded by showrunner Francesca Gardiner, who has previously worked on HBO shows like Succession and His Dark Materials. Mary Mylod, also from Succession, is an executive producer and will direct multiple episodes. After Richard Harris's death in 2002, Warner Bros. recast the role of Dumbledore with Michael Gambon, who passed away in 2023. Jude Law portrayed a younger Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts film series.
Recently, Gary Oldman humorously suggested that he might now be old enough to play Dumbledore for the TV series. However, no official casting decisions have been made for the role. An open casting call for the three main characters—Harry, Hermione, and Ron—is currently underway. The Harry Potter TV series is slated to start filming next year and is expected to premiere on HBO and Max in 2026.
The Harry Potter universe was created by author J.K. Rowling, who continues to be involved in the franchise. Her views on the trans community remain a contentious issue surrounding the series. Nonetheless, Warner Bros. is moving forward with the project, believing there is substantial financial potential in reviving the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings franchises.
