As production continues on HBO’s Harry Potter television reboot, fan speculation has settled heavily on one character above all others: Lord Voldemort.
Over the past year, online discussions have floated a wide range of potential actors for the role. An industry insider also reported that Warner Bros. and HBO were auditioning both “men and women” for the role, opening the door to a wave of online backlash.
That claim fueled rumors involving Cynthia Erivo, Tilda Swinton, and many other actresses, with debates raging over whether the series might reimagine the Dark Lord entirely.
The secrecy surrounding who will play Lord Voldemort, whether male or female, stands in contrast to the rest of the cast members, most of whom have already been announced.
Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton will play Harry, Ron, and Hermione, while John Lithgow, Nick Frost, and Janet McTeer headline the adult lineup as Dumbledore, Hagrid, and McGonagall, to name only a few members of the huge cast.
Related: REPORT: ‘Harry Potter’ Series Will Keep Voldemort a Secret for at Least a Year
But where Voldemort is concerned, speculation has now taken a sharp turn following comments from Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed the character in the original film series.
When asked on the red carpet for his latest film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple who might succeed him, Fiennes said, “Well, I’m told they’re already filled, aren’t they?”
When pressed further, he added, “I’ve already said, I think Cillian Murphy is very good. Very good. Very good choice. I think they’ve cast it, haven’t they?” Moments later, he appeared unsure, saying, “Oh, I don’t know, I thought they had.”
The clip was shared by the Lets Talk Movies TikTok account.
The remarks immediately reignited talk that Cillian Murphy could be involved, despite the actor having recently denied the rumor on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
Murphy has long been a popular fan choice, given his history with darker roles, including the Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy and Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders.
It’s unclear whether Fiennes was referencing confirmed information or repeating long-standing rumors. Either way, neither Warner Bros. nor HBO has commented.
The Harry Potter series is written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes. Additional executive producers include J.K. Rowling, David Heyman, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts. Season 1 is currently in production and is expected to arrive on HBO in 2027.
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