Ralph Fiennes sparks Cillian Murphy Voldemort casting buzz for HBO Harry Potter series

Ralph Fiennes has reignited speculation surrounding the casting of Voldemort in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series after making comments that appeared to suggest the role may already be filled — potentially by Cillian Murphy.

During a recent red carpet interview, the actor who portrayed Lord Voldemort in the original film franchise was asked who he believed should take on the role in the reboot. Fiennes responded by implying the decision may already have been made, saying he was “told they’re already filled,” before adding that Murphy would be a “very good choice.” His remarks quickly fueled online chatter that the Oppenheimer star could be attached to the project, despite no official announcement from HBO.

However, Fiennes’ comments appear to contrast with Murphy’s own statements. In a previous interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Murphy denied any involvement with the Harry Potter series, stating that he had no knowledge of the casting and emphasizing the difficulty of following in Fiennes’ footsteps. Murphy praised Fiennes as an “absolute acting legend” and wished luck to whoever ultimately takes on the role.

Fiennes has publicly endorsed Murphy for the part before. On Watch What Happens Live, he previously described Murphy as a “fantastic actor” and said he would fully support the casting if it were to happen. Still, industry observers note that the recent comments could reflect circulating rumors rather than confirmed information.

While the identity of the new Voldemort remains unconfirmed, HBO has revealed a substantial portion of the cast for its planned Harry Potter reboot. Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout have been cast as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively. Other notable cast members include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. Warwick Davis, who will portray Professor Flitwick, is the only actor returning from the original film series.

Speaking previously to Times Radio, Davis said the series aims to retell J.K. Rowling’s books with greater depth while remaining faithful to the source material, a statement later echoed by reports via Deadline.

HBO has not commented on Voldemort’s casting, and no official confirmation has been made regarding Murphy’s involvement. The Harry Potter television series is currently scheduled to premiere in 2027.