John Lithgow has said that he’s “very excited” to be joining the upcoming “Harry Potter” series as Albus Dumbledore, brushing off criticism that the role of the wizarding headteacher has been given to an American actor.

HBO is officially confirming the first cast members for the “Harry Potter” TV series. The cast now includes the following series regulars: John Lithgow (“Conclave,” “The Crown”) as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer (“Tumbleweeds,

John Lithgow has defended being cast as Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter TV show. The actor, 79, who played Winston Churchill in The Crown, faced criticism after news broke he would be portraying the Hogwarts headmaster in the HBO adaptation of JK Rowling’s famous books.