"Why is this a factor at all?" the actor, who is slated to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming show, said amid Rowling's anti-trans controversies.

John Lithgow has responded to the backlash over being cast as Albus Dumbledore in J.K. Rowling's forthcoming 'Harry Potter' series.

You probably also know that the series itself has become fairly controversial due to the involvement of Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, who has spent the majority of her post-Harry Potter career spending time — and money — essentially pushing back against the mere notion of trans rights.