‘Harry Potter’ Series: Cillian Murphy Confirms He Won’t Play Voldemort
By Isha Sharma | Oct 04, 2025, 12:26 PM
The upcoming HBO Harry Potter series has stirred widespread speculation about who will portray the iconic villain, Lord Voldemort. Among the frontrunners in fan discussions is Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy. However, Murphy has once again dismissed these rumors.
In a recent interview with Variety, Murphy stated, “No, no, no. It would be very hard to follow Ralph Fiennes.” When asked if he was keeping his casting a secret, he added, “Ha! No, I don’t play those games.”
Earlier Comments on the Role
Murphy first addressed the Voldemort rumors in early September, sharing, “My kids show it to me occasionally, but I’m like, ‘No, I don’t know anything about that.’” He also emphasized the challenge of stepping into Fiennes’s shoes, saying, “Also, it’s really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does.”
Support from Ralph Fiennes
Interestingly, Ralph Fiennes, who famously portrayed Voldemort in the original film series, has publicly endorsed Murphy as a worthy successor. Back in December 2024, Fiennes remarked, “Cillian is a fantastic actor. I actually think that’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah.”
Other Actors Linked to the Role
Besides Murphy, Matt Smith has also been mentioned as a potential Voldemort. The Crown and Doctor Who star commented, “Can anyone play him after Ralph [Fiennes]? He was so good.”
Succession actor Matthew Macfadyen was another name floated in connection with the role, though he has already been cast as the voice of Voldemort in Audible’s new series of Harry Potter audiobooks.
As fans await official casting announcements, speculation continues about who will bring the Dark Lord to life in the highly anticipated HBO adaptation.
