As the realm of Harry Potter progresses to captivate fans, new opportunities arise for familiar faces. Gary Oldman, who originally portrayed Sirius Black in The Prisoner of Azkaban two decades ago, is now expressing an interest in taking on the iconic role of Dumbledore in the forthcoming HBO series reboot.
In a conversation with IndieWire, Oldman mentioned that he hasn’t received any offers to participate in the new adaptation, which is aiming for a fresh ensemble. Nevertheless, he humorously entertained the notion of stepping into the shoes of Hogwarts' esteemed headmaster, recalling his time as Sirius with fondness. He acknowledged that although he cherished his role as Sirius, he wished to explore more depth, quipping about the possibility of portraying Dumbledore in the future.
At 66, Oldman fits the character's profile well. The original actor for Dumbledore, Richard Harris, was 71 at the premiere of the first Harry Potter movie and passed away shortly after, while Michael Gambon took over the role at the age of 64 in The Prisoner of Azkaban.
The production of the Harry Potter series is projected to begin in the spring of 2025, making it essential for Oldman and HBO to initiate discussions fairly soon. Currently, the search for a new cast is underway, as an open audition for the characters of Harry, Ron, and Hermione was made public earlier this month.
Initially announced in April of the previous year, the show promises to be a faithful rendition of the beloved novels and is set for a decade-long run. The creative minds behind the series include Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, who will serve as directors and writers, with Mylod bringing his prior experience from Game of Thrones to this magical world.