Cillian Murphy Denies He’s Playing Voldemort in New Harry Potter as New Casting Rumor Emerges

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Cillian Murphy, the Irish actor famous for his work in shows like Peaky Blinders and the movie Oppenheimer, has responded to speculation that he might play Lord Voldemort in the new Harry Potter TV series. He recently clarified the rumors while discussing his other projects in interviews.

Cillian Murphy firmly denied rumors that he’s been cast as a villain in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series. He told The Times he is “categorically not” involved and even requested the denial be the main focus of any news reports.

The actor admitted he hadn’t paid much attention to the rumors about who was being considered for the role, so he was surprised when he heard his name mentioned frequently. He explained to The Times that he’s not comfortable with being a public figure. ‘It’s not good to start thinking you’re special,’ he said, ‘and I’m honestly terrible at handling that kind of attention. I’m a pretty ordinary person, really.’

Murphy has publicly stated for the first time that he won’t be playing the Dark wizard in the new adaptation of Harry Potter. This clarifies that Ralph Fiennes, who originally played the character in the films, will not be replaced by Murphy.

Although he’s said he won’t be taking the part, it hasn’t been officially confirmed who will play Voldemort in the upcoming series. The production has announced the main cast, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stour as Ron Weasley, along with other actors.

Background on the Rumor and Series Casting

For months, everyone’s been buzzing about who could play Voldemort next, and Cillian Murphy’s name kept coming up. It felt like people connected to the films were even hinting at it! Ralph Fiennes, who originally played Voldemort, actually said he thought Murphy would be a great fit – he even mentioned someone had already been cast! A TikTok video sharing that quote from Fiennes went viral, and honestly, a lot of us fans just assumed Cillian was the new Dark Lord at that point.

Despite recent denials from Cillian Murphy, HBO and Warner Bros. Television haven’t announced who will play the villain in the series. While the production has revealed some of the cast, they’re still keeping the identities of Voldemort and other key antagonists a secret.

It’s common for fans to guess who will play key roles in big movie and TV adaptations, even before the studios officially announce anything. Because so many people love the Harry Potter series, there’s been a lot of discussion about which actors might be cast in the upcoming projects.

Paul Bettany Emerges in Separate Rumor

Although Cillian Murphy has denied rumors about playing Voldemort, Paul Bettany is now being discussed as a possible choice for the role. These reports come from entertainment news outlets, but so far, neither HBO nor Warner Bros. has confirmed anything.

Paul Bettany is now the leading candidate to portray Voldemort in the new Harry Potter TV show, according to reports.

What do you think about this potential casting? 👀🪄

(Via: @DanielRPK)

— Harry Potter World Report (@HPNews_Germany) March 4, 2026

Paul Bettany is a well-known actor in movies and TV, most notably for playing Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Murphy’s Public Comments and Professional Context

Besides talking about whether he’ll be in a Harry Potter movie, Murphy has been discussing his current work, including a Peaky Blinders film called The Immortal Man. He’s made it clear he prefers to concentrate on projects he’s already committed to, rather than responding to rumors about other roles.

Murphy’s statements are part of a growing pattern where actors involved in big movie and TV adaptations feel the need to publicly confirm whether or not they’re participating, especially as news about the project spreads. He’s now clarified his role in the upcoming Harry Potter series, while details about the rest of the cast are still being revealed.

HBO and its collaborators plan to launch a TV series based on the Harry Potter books in 2027. The show will span multiple seasons, retelling the entire story with a new cast playing the iconic characters’ children and successors.

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2026-03-05 17:57