John Lithgow has confirmed that he will portray the Hogwarts headmaster in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series, which will begin filming this summer. Lithgow, 79, said in an interview with ScreenRant that the invitation to play the beloved character came “as a total surprise.”

When asked about the offer to play Dumbledore, Lithgow described the decision as "not easy," recognizing it could define the final phase of his illustrious career.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Lithgow said that he has accepted the role of the Hogwarts head wizard in HBO’s forthcoming series: “I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party.”