John Lithgow is in final talks to play Professor Dumbledore in HBO’s TV adaptation of Harry Potter. The 3rd Rock From the Sun star would play the bearded headmaster of Hogwarts wizarding school whose Order of the Phoenix fights evil Lord Voldemort.

The Oscar-nominated star is reportedly "in final talks" to sign up to play the Hogwarts headmaster.

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;