Ralph Fiennes Backs Cillian Murphy as Voldemort in HBO’s Harry Potter Series

Ralph Fiennes, known for his chilling portrayal of Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, has expressed his support for Cillian Murphy potentially taking over the role in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. During an appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, Fiennes responded to the rumors surrounding Murphy’s involvement.

“Cillian is a fantastic actor,” Fiennes said. “That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah.”

Fiennes originally debuted as the Dark Lord in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and reprised the role in three additional films. While he previously indicated a willingness to return as Voldemort, it remains unclear if HBO has approached him for the series.

Meanwhile, speculation around casting for the reboot continues to build. Last month, Variety reported that Mark Rylance, an Oscar winner for Bridge of Spies, is being considered for the role of Dumbledore. Warner Bros. Television has yet to finalize casting or announce other roles for the highly anticipated project.

The involvement of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling in the series has sparked ongoing controversy, given her outspoken views on biological sex and transgender issues. Despite this, Fiennes has been vocal in defending Rowling, praising her books for empowering young readers.

“J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings,” Fiennes told The New York Times in 2022. He criticized the verbal abuse directed at her as “disgusting” while acknowledging the differing opinions on her statements.

As casting decisions unfold, fans are eager to see how HBO reimagines the beloved wizarding world.