The premium cabler is in talks with John Lithgow to play Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. News of Lithgow’s potential involvement follows THR ‘s reporting that British actor Paapa Essiedu ( I May Destroy You) is in discussions to play Professor Severus Snape. HBO declined to comment.

Lithgow is, undeniably, a much bigger name than Rylance, at least in his native U.S.. (Although it’s kind of weird that they’re looking to cast an American actor in the role of one of the iconic British wizards;

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