John Lithgow believes that J.K. Rowling's trans views have been 'misrepresented'
John Lithgow - who will star in the forthcoming Harry Potter TV series - feels that the franchise's author J.K. Rowling's controversial views on transgender issues have been "twisted and misrepresented" to a certain extent.
John Lithgow feels that J.K. Rowling's views on trans issues have been "misrepresented".
The 80-year-old actor will play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series that is based on Rowling's wizardry novels and explained why he decided to take the part amid the controversy surrounding the 60-year-old author's criticism of certain transgender movements.
Asked about singing up for the Harry Potter series, John told The New Yorker Radio Hour: "There was everything attractive about the job, and job security into my late years. You don't ignore those issues.
"The whole subject of Rowling's imputed prejudice, it came up after everything was already underway. I'd already said yes (...) I was urged to walk away, and I was not about to do that."
The Crown actor continued: "The reasons to do it were much, much stronger than the reasons to protest against what Rowling has done and said.
"I do disagree with much of it, much of it has been twisted and misrepresented, and she has doubled down on it at her own cost."
Lithgow stressed that he is "surprised and disappointed" by the tone of Rowling's social media posts on the issue but explained that it wasn't the author who convinced him to play Dumbledore.
He said: "I have not met her.
"The other positive on the Harry Potter project is the people who have taken it on themselves. Francesca Gardiner (showrunner) and Mark Mylod (director) have an extraordinary partnership.
"Francesca... she persuaded me, she's the big reason I took it on."
The seven-time Emmy Award winner previously branded Rowling's trans stance as "ironic and inexplicable".
Speaking at the Rotterdam Film Festival earlier this year, Lithgow said: "I take this subject extremely seriously. She has created this amazing canon for young people and it has jumped into the consciousness of the society. It's about good versus evil, kindness versus cruelty. I find her views ironic and inexplicable. I've never met her, she's not really involved in this production at all. But the people who are, are remarkable."
John even revealed that he was told to "walk away" from the Harry Potter series because of the show's association with Rowling.
He said: "It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in Potter canon you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She's written this mediation of kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role.
"It was a hard decision. It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that."
