Cillian Murphy shuts down Voldemort casting rumors for HBO's Harry Potter series — Again

Cillian Murphy has once again shut down speculation that he may be cast as Lord Voldemort in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, set to premiere in 2027.

While promoting his new Netflix film Steve, Murphy addressed the persistent rumors in a recent interview with Variety, doubling down on previous comments made in September. “No, no, no,” Murphy said when asked about the online chatter. “It would be very hard to follow Ralph Fiennes.” When the interviewer suggested that’s exactly what someone about to play Voldemort would say, the actor laughed and added, “Ha! No, I don’t play those games.”

This echoes Murphy’s earlier comments when fancasting of the Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders star went viral. At the time, Murphy acknowledged seeing the speculation, often brought to his attention by his kids, but dismissed any involvement. “I don’t know anything about that,” he said. Again, he praised Fiennes, calling him “an absolute acting legend,” and wished “good luck to whoever is going to fill those shoes.”

Despite Murphy’s repeated denials, some fans and even Harry Potter insiders remain unconvinced. Ralph Fiennes himself previously endorsed the idea of Murphy taking on the iconic role, calling him “a fantastic actor” in a December 2024 interview and saying he would be “all in favor” of Murphy as his successor.

So far, HBO has confirmed much of the early casting for the reboot series, including newcomer Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter. However, the role of Voldemort remains unannounced, fueling speculation. Some sources claim casting has been finalized but is being kept secret, while others report ongoing auditions—including for both male and female actors.

Other names floated include Doctor Who and The Crown star Matt Smith, who similarly played down the idea, and Succession actor Matthew Macfadyen, who was recently confirmed as the voice of Voldemort in Audible’s upcoming Harry Potter audiobooks.

HBO’s Harry Potter reboot is expected to premiere in 2027.