John Lithgow, the actor who will soon play beloved Harry Potter character Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO rendition, has addressed criticism surrounding his casting as Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series.He has also reacted to concerns connected to author J.K. Rowling’s public views on trans issues, and his statement showed his stance on today's "war on empathy'. He said that he finds J.K. Rowling's stance on the matter,"ironic"John Lithgow addressed Rowling's anti-trans stanceLithgow was present at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), where he spoke publicly, addressing many concerns. The main focus was his support of Sophie Hyde’s queer family drama Jimpa.It is during this conversation that Lithgow steered to a reflection on the current political and cultural climate that he felt was like a 'war on empathy.'“Now, we’re in the midst of a war on empathy, and I’m on the side of empathy.”Lithgow is a veteran actor and is 80 years old. The actor, famous for movies like The Manhattan Project and Killers of the Flower Moon, spoke about the scale of effort and commitment involved in long-form storytelling. He said that the eight-year contract for the series was “insane.” View this post on Instagram Instagram PostWhen asked how he reconciled taking on the role given Rowling’s stance on trans rights, Lithgow stressed that he approached the decision with seriousness and personal reflection.“I take the subject and the issue extremely seriously,” he said.Lithgow is well aware of the Harry Potter books. Being familiar with the source material, Lithgow praised the cultural impact of the series, saying Rowling“has created this amazing canon for young people, young kids’ literature that has jumped into the consciousness of society.”He also opined,“Young and old people love Harry Potter and the Harry Potter stories. It’s so much about acceptance. It’s about good versus evil. It’s about kindness versus cruelty. It’s deeply felt.”Lithgow also drew attention to an apparent distance between the thematic engagement of the books and the public opinion of Rowling. He said,“I find it ironic and somewhat inexplicable that Rowling has expressed such views."He also said that he has never met the author. According to Lithgow, Rowling “is not really involved in this production at all,” and he described the team re-adapting the series as “remarkable,” noting,“These are people I really want to work with.”Lithgow also addressed the issue of backlash that he received upon being cast as Albus Dumbledore, a character that bears immense importance,“Of course, it upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to my having anything to do with this.”He also opined,“If you read through the Harry Potter canon, you see absolutely no trace of transphobic sensibility."He also described how the books were,“a great meditation on kindness and empathy and acceptance.”Calling Dumbledore's role beautiful, he also addressed how the decision to join the cast was hard due to the controversy.“It was a hard decision on the basis of that [controversy], and it made me very uncomfortable and unhappy that people were actively insisting that I walk away from this job."He later explained that he chose not to walk that path. Lithgow is a two-time Academy Award nominee and multiple Emmy and Tony winner, known for decades of work across film, television, and theater.For those who want to catch the Harry Potter HBO series, they have to wait till early 2027.