Ralph Fiennes Reveals Unexpected Voldemort Pick for HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series

Ralph Fiennes Reveals Unexpected Voldemort Pick for HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series

Ralph Fiennes has floated an unexpected choice for Voldemort in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. He suggested Tilda Swinton as an ideal fit.

Fiennes’ remarks and his original portrayal

Fiennes spoke about the idea on the BBC’s The Claudia Winkleman Show. He said he would like to reprise the role but felt that ship had sailed.

He first portrayed the Dark Lord in the fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That appearance marked Voldemort’s cinematic return.

Casting rumors and auditions

Entertainment insider Daniel Richtman reported in September 2025 that auditions include both men and women for Voldemort. No official casting decisions have been announced.

  • Tilda Swinton emerged as a popular fan pick.
  • Cillian Murphy also became a frequent fan-casting choice.

Responses from actors and HBO

Cillian Murphy denied involvement on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. He said he did not know anything about the project and joked about being attached to his nose.

HBO CEO Casey Bloys told Variety in March that the Dark Lord had not been cast. He urged caution and called many reports unreliable.

Series timeline

The HBO adaptation is scheduled to premiere on Christmas Day 2026 on HBO Max. It remains unclear when the series will introduce Voldemort.

What comes next

No casting announcements for the Dark Lord have been published. Filmogaz.com will follow casting updates and report new developments.