Ralph Fiennes has given his blessing to Cillian Murphy to take over the iconic role of Voldemort in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series. The news comes after rumours circulated in recent weeks suggesting Murphy, fresh off his acclaimed performance in Oppenheimer, was being considered for the role of the Dark Lord.
In an interview on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, Fiennes, who portrayed Voldemort in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, was asked for his thoughts on Murphy taking on the part. Fiennes responded enthusiastically, saying, “Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah.”
Fiennes, who first appeared as Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and went on to reprise the role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 (2010–2011), has long been associated with the character. In fact, just a few years before HBO announced its reboot of the Harry Potter franchise as a TV series, Fiennes expressed an interest in returning to the role. “There’s no question about it,” he said at the time, indicating he would be keen to step back into the shoes of ‘He Who Must Not Be Named.’
Although Fiennes has not confirmed whether he will return for the HBO series, his comments about Murphy suggest that he would support a new actor taking on the role if that is the direction the series takes.
In addition to the Voldemort casting news, rumours have also emerged suggesting that Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance may be in line to play Dumbledore in the upcoming series. While no official negotiations have taken place yet, reports indicate that Warner Bros. Television has reached out to Rylance to gauge his interest in the role, though no further details have been confirmed.
The Harry Potter reboot, has generated significant excitement among fans of the wizarding world. The series is expected to reimagine the beloved books in a fresh format for a new generation, and as casting rumours swirl, fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation of the full line-up.
While some fans have been disappointed by the casting of certain characters in the past, there’s no shortage of enthusiasm for the potential of Murphy as Voldemort. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) declared, “He’d make a deranged He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named,” while another simply said, “I need this casting more than I need air.”
Fiennes, who has long been a vocal supporter of Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, also addressed the controversy surrounding the author’s views, particularly on her stance regarding biological sex and gender. Fiennes defended Rowling in a 2022 interview, stating that while he understood differing opinions, he felt that the criticism of her was “disgusting” and “appalling.” Despite the ongoing debate, Fiennes expressed his unwavering support for the Harry Potter books and their messages of empowerment.
