During a recent red-carpet interview, Ralph Fiennes appeared to hint that Cillian Murphy could be the next actor to take on the role of Voldemort in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. Fiennes, who portrayed the Dark Lord in the original film franchise, made the comment while attending the premiere of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, sparking speculation about the casting choice.
Fiennes’ Comments Spark Speculation About Casting
When asked who might succeed him as Voldemort, Fiennes responded,
“I’m told they are already filled, aren’t they? I think Cillian Murphy is very good. A very good choice,”
suggesting that the casting was already decided. He seemed uncertain as he repeated,
“I’ve already said, I think Cillian Murphy is very good,”
and then queried,
“I think they’ve cast it, haven’t they? You don’t know?”
Turning to his team for confirmation, he added,
“I don’t know. I thought they had.”
Uncertainty around the Casting Decision
Fiennes’ remarks leave unclear whether he was disclosing confidential details or merely referencing ongoing fan theories. Cillian Murphy, known for his role in Peaky Blinders, has long been rumored to take on the part and had been favored at 6/1 odds by OLBG. However, Murphy himself dismissed these rumors during an interview on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, stating,
“I don’t know anything about that.”
He also praised Fiennes, saying,
“Also, it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does. The man is an absolute acting legend, so good luck to whoever’s gonna fill those shoes.”
Confirmed Cast and What Lies Ahead
HBO has announced several key cast members for the series, including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer portraying McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Nick Frost taking on Hagrid’s role. As the production moves forward, the question of who will embody Voldemort remains one of the most eagerly anticipated reveals.
