“Harry Potter” film Voldemort Ralph Fiennes approves of Cillian Murphy playing the villain in HBO series

Ralph Fiennes, the actor who played Harry Potter villain Voldemort in most of the films, has spoken, and he likes the idea of Oppenheimer Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy playing the character in HBO's planned TV series.

When asked what he thinks of Murphy's name being "thrown around as a potential option" to take on the role during a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live, Fiennes was quick to answer.

"Cillian is a fantastic actor,” the Schindler's List star said. "I actually think that's a wonderful, wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian."

The two-time Oscar nominee portrayed Lord Voldemort (also known as He Who Must Not Be Named) in four of the eight films in the blockbuster franchise: first in 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, then in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2007 and both parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2010 and 2011.

In November 2022, Fiennes said that he would return to the role if asked. "Sure, of course," he told Variety. "No question about it."

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HBO announced in June that Francesca Gardiner, a producer on Succession and writer and producer on His Dark Materials, would be the showrunner of its new series, which, like anything in the world of the boy wizard, is hotly anticipated. Mark Mylod, who was a director and producer on Succession, will executive produce and direct some episodes.

Controversial author J.K. Rowling, who penned the books on which the movies and the upcoming show are based, will also serve as an executive producer.

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The series is expected to be a faithful retelling of the story audiences know and love. So other film stars, such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, are also not expected to return.

Envisioning Murphy as Harry's nemesis is not tough to do, especially since audiences have already seen him in villainous roles such as Scarecrow in Batman movies (opposite Christian Bale's Dark Knight) and a terrorist in Red Eye.

Murphy will soon be seen with Fiennes in Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later, the director's return to the zombie movie franchise he kicked off in 2002 with 28 Days Later. The sequel film, which is slated for release on June 20, 2025, also features Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer.

Murphy is also working on the film follow-up to creator Steven Knight's acclaimed Peaky Blinders crime series, in which he plays complicated and menacing World War I veteran and gangster Thomas Shelby.

Fiennes, meanwhile, is generating tremendous Oscar buzz for his role as a conflicted Catholic cardinal in the papal drama Conclave. The film is playing in theaters and now available to rent on streaming services including Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

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