Harry Potter Reboot: The Oscar-Winning Actor Who’s Being Eyed as New Dumbledore Has Been Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II

Regarded as one of the highest-grossing franchises worldwide, the Harry Potter series is based on J.K. Rowling’s novel series. It is soon going to make its way back on the screen, almost fifteen years after the final movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiered. HBO announced a reboot series back on April 12, 2023, at the press event for Warner Bros. Discovery.

It has been reported that each season is going to go into depth and detail the one book in the novel series. The studios assured the ardent fans of the series that they would have a faithful adaptation of their beloved Harry Potter books with an entirely new cast. Fans are thrilled to watch their favorite characters back on-screen, and now there is a buzz about who might play Dumbledore in the reboot series.

Academy award winning Mark Rylance tops the casting wishlist for the Harry Potter reboot series

English actor-playwright and theatre director Mark Rylance, who has appeared in the West End productions of Much Ado About Nothing, Jerusalem, Twelfth Night, and more, is one of the most influential actors in the industry. He has appeared in movies including Bridge of Spies, The BFG, Dunkirk, Don’t Look Up, Bones and All, and more.

The actor has been appreciated for his work in theater and cinema and has won an Academy Award for his work in Bridge of Spies. Now, according to a report by Variety, he is one of the top candidates being considered for the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter reboot series. Rylance reprised his role as Thomas Cromwell for the BBC’s period drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.

The publication reported that the studios have not yet entered into negotiations with the actor but have contacted him to let him know that they would like him to be part of the Harry Potter world. The publication received information from an HBO representative.

We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.

Rylance was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 and is known to be one of the finest actors of his generation. Even though the studios have not yet begun any sort of negotiations, it would be interesting to have such a well-admired and respected actor play the role of beloved Albus Dumbledore.

Actor Richard Harris played the character in the original movie series before Michael Gambon stepped in following Harris’ death in 2002.

Richard Harris’ son, Jared Harris, declines to portray Dumbledore in the TV reboot of Harry Potter

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is one of the most significant characters in the Harry Potter series, and Richard Harris was 70 years old when he took up the role in the original movies. He passed away two years later, having completed just the two movies, and was eventually replaced by Michael Gambon for the remaining movies.

In fact, according to The Guardian, the late actor had rejected the role three times until his granddaughter pursued him to play the character. He shared at the time,

All I knew was that they kept offering me the part and raising the salary every time they called. I kept turning it down. Anyone involved has to agree to be in the sequels, all of them, and that’s not how I wanted to spend the last years of my life, so I said no over and over again.

He went on to reveal that his granddaughter Ella made the offer and told him that she’d never speak to him if he didn’t take the role. So, he finally said yes. Now with the buzz about the reboot, Harris’ son Jared Harris was asked if he’d be interested in playing the character his father once played, but the actor, just like his father, has declined. In an interview with The Independent, he said,

No. Thank you. Also, I mean, why do it? I don’t understand. The films were fantastic—leave them alone.

However, the actor did acknowledge that there is so much storytelling left out of the movies, which in fact can be explored in the TV reboot. The studios, as mentioned will be looking at each season as one book and will be going in-depth to highlight the details that were missed out in the movies.

There has been no further update on the Harry Potter reboot except the fact that casting calls are open for the lead characters i.e, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermonie Granger. These characters were originally played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson respectively in the original movies.

The TV reboot of Harry Potter is scheduled for 2026 release. Harry Potter movies are streaming on Peacock Premium.