Ralph Fiennes has sparked a massive wave of discussion among fans of the Harry Potter universe by stating that Cillian Murphy has allegedly already been approved for the role of Voldemort in the new Harry Potter series from HBO. His words quickly spread through the media and social networks, although there is currently no official confirmation of who will play the role of the main antagonist of the franchise.
Cillian Murphy
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Ralph Fiennes made the statement while speaking to reporters at a public event for the film “28 Years Later: Temple of Bones.” The actor, who played Voldemort in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling's novels, was asked a direct question: who should “take his place” in HBO's television reboot of “Harry Potter.” In a video that quickly went viral on TikTok, Fiennes replied: “I was told the spot is already taken, right? I think Cillian Murphy is a very good choice.”
@letstalkmovies.com Wait did that just happen? #voldemort#ralphfiennes#harrypotterseries#cillianmurphy#harrypotter#casting#production original sound – Let's Talk Movies
However, almost immediately after this line, Ralph Fiennes began to doubt his own words. He repeatedly asked if the role of Voldemort had actually been cast, and later admitted outright, “I don't know. I thought it had already happened.” This moment of uncertainty only added to the confusion surrounding Cillian Murphy's possible casting as Voldemort.
The situation is particularly controversial, as Cillian Murphy has previously publicly denied his involvement in the Harry Potter series. In September 2025, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor said that he only learned about the rumors about the role of Voldemort from his children. According to him, he had not received any official offers. At the same time, Cillian Murphy emphasized that after Ralph Fiennes, it would be difficult for anyone to play the role, calling him a cinema legend.
Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort
Meanwhile, it's not the first time Ralph Fiennes has openly supported the idea of casting Cillian Murphy as Voldemort. Earlier on Watch What Happens Live, the actor called Murphy a “fantastic actor” and directly stated that he fully supports such a choice for the HBO series. These words of Fiennes have previously become the basis for numerous fan theories.
HBO has not officially confirmed who will play Voldemort in the new Harry Potter series. HBO, as well as Cillian Murphy and Ralph Fiennes, have been reached for comment, but no official statement has been made. The casting of Voldemort remains one of the biggest mysteries of the upcoming series.
Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley
HBO's Harry Potter series was officially announced in 2024. The project is conceived as a large-scale and long-term adaptation of seven books by J.K. Rowling. The production of the series is planned for about ten years. Each season of the series should be dedicated to a separate novel, which will allow for much deeper revelation of the plot and characters.
During the casting, the creators of the Harry Potter series held one of the largest selections in television history. Over 30,000 actors took part in the tests. As a result, the main roles went to Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. These characters were previously played on screen by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. The key cast of the series has also been confirmed. John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore. Paapa Essiedu will play the role of Severus Snape. Janet McTeer will play Minerva McGonagall. Nick Frost will appear as Rubeus Hagrid.