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Cillian Murphy is setting the record straight about swirling rumors linking him to the iconic role of Lord Voldemort in HBO's highly anticipated Harry Potter TV reboot.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz, Murphy addressed the online chatter head-on. The Oppenheimer star revealed that while his children have shown him the fan theories suggesting he could play the infamous villain, there is no truth to the speculation.
"My kids show me it occasionally, but no, I don't know anything about that," Murphy said. "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."
Murphy even joked about Voldemort's distinctive appearance, adding that he's "quite attached" to his nose, a nod to the Dark Lord's famously snake-like features.
The rumors gained traction after original Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes gave his blessing to the idea of Murphy taking over the role during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live last December. "Cillian is a fantastic actor," Fiennes said at the time. "That's a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian."
Voldemort's character has been portrayed by several actors over the years. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), he appeared as a face on Professor Quirrell's head, voiced by Richard Bremmer. Christian Coulson later played a younger version of the villain in Chamber of Secrets (2002). Beginning with Goblet of Fire (2005) and through to Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), Fiennes embodied the role, cementing Voldemort's status as one of cinema's most memorable villains.
HBO's reboot, set to premiere in 2027, will adapt J.K. Rowling's seven-book saga into seven seasons, each focusing on one book. The series has already cast Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, along with actors for Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, and Hagrid.
As for Murphy, he remains focused on his upcoming projects, including the Netflix drama Steve, premiering October 3, the Peaky Blinders film The Immortal Man slated for 2026, and the highly anticipated sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, hitting theaters in January 2026. For now, fans eager to see who will step into Voldemort's dark robes will just have to wait.
