John Lithgow, a prominent actor known for his portrayal of Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, has admitted to feeling "stung" by social media reaction to his casting. Lithgow stated he has never met J.K. Rowling and does not align with her anti-trans views, but believes her books are "on the side of the angels" against intolerance and bigotry. Some fans have threatened to boycott the series entirely. The cast includes Janet McTeer, Nick Frost, Paapa Essiedu, Katherine Parkinson and Johnny Flynn.