John Lithgow Says J.K. Rowling Is 'Not Really Involved' in HBO’s Harry Potter Reboot

His remark reinforces the series’ positioning as steered by its TV creative team rather than the author’s day-to-day oversight.

Overview

Speaking at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Lithgow said he has never met Rowling and described her as not really involved in the production, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Rowling remains credited as an executive producer, with early reporting describing her role as advisory to preserve fidelity to the books.
In 2025, Rowling posted that she read and praised the first two scripts and said she worked closely with the writers but was not scripting episodes herself.
Deadline reported she visited the Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden set in November 2025, a stop characterized by insiders as a highly formal visit.
HBO content chief Casey Bloys has said Rowling’s political views are her own and that the adaptation is not being infused with them, as debate over her public statements continues among fans and advocacy groups.