The Merovingian is about to weave his magic. 67-year-old French star Lambert Wilson — best known for Of Gods and Men and The Matrix Reloaded — was seen sporting long white hair and a matching beard, confirming his role as Nicolas Flamel, the legendary alchemist and inventor of the Philosopher’s Stone in HBO‘s highly anticipated Harry Potter adaptation. Wilson was joined by Marthe Keller, the acclaimed Swiss actress known for Marathon Man and Black Eyes, who is reportedly playing Flamel’s partner.
The pair were seen filming together in period-inspired costumes, a sequence that, curiously, does not appear in J.K. Rowling’s original Philosopher’s Stone novel. A reduced film crew was spotted on the English coast this week shooting a mysterious sequence for HBO’s upcoming series, giving fans their first glimpse of John Lithgow, Keller, and Wilson on set.
In the photos, Dumbledore stands barefoot on a rocky beach, clutching cue cards inscribed with what appear to be Latin phrases — or perhaps spells — while gesturing dramatically toward the sea. For Harry Potter purists, this is an entirely new moment; there’s no seaside sequence involving Dumbledore in the first book. Whether the scene is a flashback, a vision, or something newly invented for the series remains to be seen.
How Will Harry Potter Be Different from the Movies?
Lithgow has offered only cryptic hints about his version of the iconic Hogwarts headmaster. Speaking earlier this year, he described Dumbledore as a presence so powerful he must be used sparingly:
“You know, Dumbledore is — he’s kind of the nuclear weapon. He only goes on very, very occasionally. I don’t think it’s gonna be that hard a job, and, we’ll just go back and forth.”
The veteran actor admitted that the role came to him unexpectedly:
“I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid. But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter.”
Joking about his age, Lithgow added that by the time the series wraps, he’ll be “about 87 years old at the wrap party,” but said he dove into Rowling’s books for the first time to prepare for the role. HBO‘s Harry Potter series will arrive in early 2027.
via Collider