**‘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 ignited widespread speculation about who will portray the iconic villain Lord Voldemort. Among the top fan favorites is *Oppenheimer* star Cillian Murphy. However, Murphy has once again dismissed the rumors about him taking on the role.
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, Murphy replied with a laugh, “Ha! No, I don’t play those games.”
### Earlier Comments from Murphy
Murphy first addressed the Voldemort speculation in early September, explaining, “My kids show it to me occasionally, but I’m like, ‘No, I don’t know anything about that.’” He also reiterated how challenging it would be to follow in the footsteps of Ralph Fiennes, who famously portrayed Voldemort in the original film series: “Also, it’s really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does.”
### Ralph Fiennes’s Support for Murphy
Interestingly, Fiennes himself has already expressed support for Murphy taking over the role. In December 2024, Fiennes praised Murphy, saying, “Cillian is a fantastic actor. I actually think that’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah.”
### Other Contenders for the Role
Aside from Murphy, *The Crown* and *Doctor Who* actor Matt Smith has also been linked to the role of Voldemort. Smith commented on the daunting task of following Fiennes, stating, “Can anyone play him after Ralph? He was so good.”
Another actor rumored for the part was *Succession* star Matthew Macfadyen. While Macfadyen will not be portraying Voldemort on screen, he has been cast as the voice of Voldemort in Audible’s new series of *Harry Potter* audiobooks.
As the HBO *Harry Potter* series continues to generate buzz, fans eagerly await official casting announcements to see who will bring the dark wizard to life on screen.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/cillian-reacts-to-rumors-of-playing-voldemort-in-harry-potter/story
