HBO shared a casting update for its Harry Potter TV series adaptation after rumors began swirling that John Lithgow was in final negotiations to play Dumbledore in the show, set to premiere in 2026.
Accio Harry Potter cast details.
HBO shared insight into the casting process of its highly anticipated Harry Potter TV adaptation after speculation began swirling that John Lithgow—who’s starred in shows like Dexter, as well as movies such as Conclave and Interstellar—was in final negotiations to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in the series, which is expected to hit screens in 2026.
“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” HBO said in a Feb. 12 statement to Deadline. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
E! News reached out to HBO and a rep for Lithgow for comment but has not heard back.
And while HBO didn’t confirm whether the role of Dumbledore—previously played by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the 2001-2011 film franchise—has been filled, the network has shared several other magical details about the high-profile J.K. Rowling adaptation, which was designed to run for over a decade.
For one, Francesca Gardiner—who’s previously written for dramas including His Dark Materials and The Rook—created the series and will serve as its showrunner.
Meanwhile, Mark Mylod—who’s behind the 2022 psychological thriller The Menu—will direct and executive produce the show.
And fans of the book will be especially pleased with HBO’s take on the franchise, as the producers announced in a 2023 press release that it will be a “faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s novels.
As for whether film series cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton and Ralph Fiennes will be returning to Hogwarts in some capacity? Radcliffe doesn’t want muggles to get their hopes up.
“I think they very wisely want to [have] a clean break,” he told E! News in May. “And I don’t know if it would work to have us do anything in it.”
Radcliffe continued, “I’m very happy to just watch along with everyone else.”
But that doesn’t mean the door is completely closed on him re-entering the wizarding world. After all, the 35-year-old remained coy when asked exactly how he’d respond if HBO did ask him to make an appearance.
“I’m gonna be a politician about this,” he quipped, “and not deal in hypotheticals.”
Can’t wait for Harry Potter to hit TV screens in 2026? Read on for shows set to premiere this year…
Extracted (Fox) – Feb. 10
Twelve families and amateur survivalists embark on a treacherous adventure in the wild in an attempt to win $250,000.
Surviving Black Hawk Down (Netflix) – Feb. 10
Surviving Black Hawk Down tells the gripping real story of the horror and heroism behind the events that inspired Ridley Scott’s blockbuster movie Black Hawk Down, blending raw, immersive storytelling with first-person interviews from both sides of The Battle of Mogadishu.
Summer House (Bravo) – Feb. 12
Returning this summer unsure of where everyone stands, these housemates find themselves bonding over a growing wombmate and determined to get back to the carefree group that loves to send it. Nine favorites return to the Hamptons, along with two fresh faces ready to have some fun in the sun.
The Masked Singer (Fox) – Feb. 12
The celebrity singing competition series returns for season 13.
Yellowjackets (Showtime) – Feb. 14
Season three will continue to follow the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.
Love Is Blind (Netflix) – Feb. 14
The hit reality series is back for an eighth season, following a new set of singles from Minnesota—all ready to cut through the static of modern dating and forge authentic relationships, sight unseen. This season, the singles form deep and immediate connections, setting the stage for an unexpected journey full of twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will test each relationship well after the participants leave the pods for the real world.
The White Lotus (HBO) – Feb. 16
Season three is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.
Fatal Family Feuds (Oxygen) – Feb. 16
Fatal Family Feuds explores how a minor family disagreement could transform into a deadly altercation. The show delves into cases where a person lost their life at the hands of someone they should have been able to trust the most, their family. Each episode focuses on a different family, dissecting how exactly a disagreement with their nearest and dearest results in a callous murder. As the story of the feud unfolds, experience the twists, turns, red herrings and revelations within each case until the perpetrator is caught and the feud comes to a just conclusion.
Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special (NBC) – Feb. 16
SNL celebrates its historic milestone with a look back at half a decade of epic sketches and guests.
90 Day Fiancé (TLC) – Feb. 16
The new season captures the riveting journeys of intercultural couples—Americans and their foreign fiancés—as they navigate the thrilling complexities of love, cultural differences, and societal pressures. With just 90 days to wed before their K1 visas expire, these couples must overcome significant hurdles or face the heartbreaking reality of separation.
This season features three exciting new pairs, three returning couples from previous franchises and its first-ever throuple.
Family Guy (Fox) – Feb. 16
Season 23 will parody Top Gun, which will chronicle Peter/Maverick getting together with Lois/Charlie, the tragic death of Joe/Goose, and Peter/Maverick’s blooming relationship with Chris/Rooster. Additionally, this season, Peter runs into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at a brewery tour, Lois becomes a stand-up comedian and Meg starts dating a chicken she meets on a reality dating show.
The Great North (Fox) – Feb. 16
Season the season five premiere, Wolf finally gets cast on the local Alaskan survival show Dropped Off To Die, but when he’s out early, his shame leads him to sneak home and hide on the Tobin property instead in “The Prince of Hides Adventure” episode of The Great North.
Krapopolis (Fox) – Feb. 16
The animated comedy returns with new episodes this February.
Grimsburg (Fox) – Feb. 16
On the season two premiere, Harmony (Erinn Hayes) pushes Flute (Jon Hamm) to move out, resulting in him moving into a house haunted by a doting housewife. Things soon go awry when Flute invites everyone for an adult party at his house, and Flute’s disregard of the ghost prompts her to threaten their lives in the all-new “Haunted Housewife” episode of Grimsburg.
We Beat the Dream Team (HBO/MAX) – Feb. 17
The documentary reveals the little-known story of a group of college basketball players who were tasked with preparing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan and the rest of the legendary “Dream Team” for their Olympic debut in 1992. In an unexpected twist, the college team shocked the NBA superstars by defeating them in a scrimmage – an outcome that ultimately helped propel the Dream Team to gold.
Who Is Luigi Mangione? (Investigation Discovery) – Feb. 17
Investigation Discovery is set to premiere an hour-long special delving into the psyche of alleged United Healthcare CEO assassin. With commentary from experts throughout, including executive producer Dan Abrams, criminologist Casey Jordan, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, as well as Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, the special aims to unpack Mangione’s background and track his trajectory to understand what led him to land behind bars. Through narration of his digital archives, including his own online posts and Reddit discussions, those close to Mangione bring comprehensive insight into his personality, health struggles and chronic pain, offering a deeper understanding of his mental state leading up to the alleged crime
Reacher (Prime Video) – Feb. 20
A Thousand Blows (Hulu) – Feb. 21
From Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the period drama is set in the perilous world of illegal boxing in 1880s Victorian London and based on little explored real-life characters with incredible stories.
Onside: Major League Soccer (AppleTV+) – Feb. 21
Apple TV+ and Major League Soccer’s eight-part panoramic documentary event explores the electrifying moments and captivating stories that power Major League Soccer.
Chris Distefano: It’s Just Unfortunate (Hulu) – Feb. 21
Chris Distefano is trying to be the best father he can be but nowadays, words speak louder than actions – so Chris is acting with the right intentions, but not always the right moves.
Grosse Pointe Garden Society (NBC) – Feb. 23
Grosse Pointe Garden Society follows four members of a suburban garden club who find their lives intertwined by scandal, mischief and a shared secret – a murder no one wants to talk about. As dark truths begin to rot their lives under the surface, they struggle to remain as perfect as the flowers blooming in their garden above.
1923 (Paramount+) – Feb. 23
In the second season of 1923, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch. With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana. Meanwhile, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) sets off on her own harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love.
Suits: LA (NBC) – Feb. 23
Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. His firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a stellar group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while we slowly unravel the events that years ago led Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved.
The series stars Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt and Bryan Greenberg.
Bar Rescue (Paramount Network) – Feb. 23
Known for his tough-love approach, Jon Taffer travels nationwide to rescue bars and restaurants on the verge of closure, delivering dramatic transformations, high-stakes decisions, and inspiring turnarounds. Along the way, he takes on raw emotions, intense confrontations, and fresh challenges across diverse cities, all with the goal of saving local businesses.
The Americas (NBC) – Feb. 23
The Baldwins (TLC) – Feb. 23
The new reality series offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look into the lives of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin and their seven children.
In the season premiere, Alec and Hilaria celebrate their oldest son Rafael’s ninth birthday and, in a bid to escape the noise of the city, they head to East Hampton to continue a yearly summer tradition. But in the midst of celebration is uncertainty as Alec faces trial. Alec and Hilaria navigate the emotional complexities of the moment, all while keeping their children’s lives as stable as possible.
Behind the Gates (CBS) – Feb. 24
The new daytime drama is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States. Here you’ll find a posh gated community with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions to call home.
At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those who live outside these gates are watching closely. These are the places where our characters live, love, work and play. Those who have “made it” and those who haven’t are all trying to navigate life … and some with more grace than others.
Shoresy (Hulu) – Feb. 26
Shoresy (Jared Keeso) explores life after hockey, and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs contend with the distractions of summer in Sudbury.
Season four debuts Feb. 26.
Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (Hulu) – Feb. 27
As the cracks began to show, the family turned to counselor Jodi Hildebrandt for guidancem – and rapidly found themselves trapped in a nightmare. Only the Frankes know what went on inside their home.
Toxic Town (Netflix) – Feb. 27
Based on the real-life story of one of the U.K.’s biggest environmental scandals, Toxic Town is the story of the people at the heart of the Corby poisonings. Focusing on the mothers, who took on a David and Goliath battle for justice, the series traces through the years of their fight as a terrible truth comes to the surface.
Source: www.eonline.com