Cillian Murphy Breaks His Silence on Those Harry Potter Villain Rumors
With fans buzzing about Cillian Murphy taking on the role of Voldemort in HBO's Harry Potter, the Oscar winner finally sets the record straight—and his answer might not be what you expect.
Voldemort might already be cast for HBO's Harry Potter reboot, but the name is apparently being tucked away until the show drops in 2027. Naturally, that has kicked the rumor mill into overdrive. The name I keep hearing? Cillian Murphy. And yeah, I get it.
The Voldemort question
Multiple reports say the show has its Dark Lord locked, but HBO is sitting on the reveal until closer to premiere. That kind of secrecy is very on-brand for a big franchise relaunch, but it also invites a lot of guesswork. Hence: Murphy, Murphy, Murphy.
Why Cillian Murphy keeps coming up
Murphy is fresh off an Oscar win for playing J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's megahit Oppenheimer, which only made his 'terrifyingly calm' vibe even more top of mind for fans. He's been a popular pick online for Voldemort, and the endorsement train isn't just coming from Reddit threads.
Ralph Fiennes weighed in
Ralph Fiennes, the original Voldemort, said he is 'all in favor' of Murphy taking over the role.
That is as close as you get to a benediction from the source. Does it mean Murphy is doing it? Not necessarily. There's been zero confirmation from HBO, Murphy, or anyone else with a contract.
The secrecy and the clock
The plan, per those same reports, is to keep the actor's identity under wraps until the 2027 premiere. It's a long runway, which is either great marketing or a great way to drive everyone a little nuts. Maybe both.
Who is reportedly attached so far
One listing making the rounds lays out some creative leads and a surprisingly stacked cast. Worth noting: there's a tiny name mismatch in the credits below (Francisca vs. Francesca), which looks like a typo, but I'm including it as-is for transparency.
- Showrunner: Francisca Gardiner
- Director: Mark Mylod
- Writer: Francesca Gardiner
- Cast: Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter; Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall; John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore; Nick Frost as Hagrid
The read
If HBO really has Voldemort locked down, Cillian Murphy is the kind of swing that would make the wait feel worth it. The Ralph Fiennes blessing only adds fuel. Until someone says it out loud, though, this stays squarely in the 'smart guess' column. When they finally pull the hood off in 2027, it better be a moment.