Cillian Murphy Clears Up Voldemort Casting Speculation for HBO Series

Harry Potter fans will need to look elsewhere for their dream Voldemort casting. Cillian Murphy recently addressed the fan rumors that he would play the iconic villain in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series.

The discussion came up during Thursday’s episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast with host Josh Horowitz.

Murphy dismissed the rumors, saying, “No, my kids show me it occasionally, but no, I don’t know anything about that. I mean, also, it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does. The man is an absolute acting legend. So, good luck to whoever is going to fill those shoes.”

Fiennes originally brought Voldemort to life in the Harry Potter films.

The HBO series is set to premiere in 2027 on both HBO and HBO Max. Dominic McLaughlin has been cast as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley.

Each of J.K. Rowling’s seven books is expected to become its own season, giving the story a fresh retelling for a new generation.

Outside of Harry Potter news, Murphy has several projects lined up. He stars in the Netflix film Steve, which will debut on October 3, 2025. He is also involved in the Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, arriving in theaters in 2026, as well as the sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set for January 2026.

Fans were clearly excited at the thought of Murphy playing Voldemort, but his comments show respect for Fiennes’ legacy in the role. The new HBO series promises to retell the Harry Potter story in a fresh way, and the new cast looks promising. What do you think of the series’ casting choices? Share your thoughts in the comments.