Did Ralph Fiennes just leak the identity of the new Voldemort actor for the Harry Potter TV adaptation?
The 63-year-old three-time Oscar nominee, of course, played He Who Cannot Be Named in the hit film series, first appearing in 2005’s Goblet of Fire and concluding with the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2007.
And with HBO taking charge of the wizarding franchise and developing each movie into a season of television, speculation remains rife over who will don his cloak next.
However, it looks like Ralph may have just let a major casting secret slip.
In a recent interview at an event, the Bafta winner was asked on a red carpet: ‘Who do you think should fill your shoes for Voldemort in the upcoming HBO show?’
He replied with a smile: ‘Well, I’m told they’re already filled, aren’t they?’
‘Who do you think it should be?’, the journalist probed. ‘If anyone could do Voldemort the way that you did Voldemort…’
‘I’ve already said, I think Cillian Murphy is very good,’ Ralph replied.
‘Very good. Very good choice,’ he praised, uncertainty suddenly spreading across his face as the reporters remained silent.
‘I think they’ve cast it, haven’t they?’, he asked.
The interviewer responded with, ‘I hope so. I love Cillian Murphy,’ as Ralph turned to his team in panic.
‘I don’t know. I thought they had,’ he then stuttered upon realisation.
As the initial reporter began chuckling, Ralph moved on to the next, but not before feigning annoyance by pointing a finger at her, as if to say, ‘You caught me out’, albeit inadvertently on her part.
Once the clip made its way online, it didn’t take long for Harry Potter fans to share their thoughts on the rumoured casting, with many also in stitches over how it was ‘confirmed’.
@Agora_hillss wrote on X: ‘That’s what happen when you tell an actor who isnt even in the series a secret you don’t want people to know lmao’.
Others admitted they felt ‘disappointed’ in the Peaky Blinders star if the claims are true.
‘There has to be some kind of misunderstanding here. I really can’t see Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy attaching himself to this. There is no way he doesn’t have people around him warning him of the intense backlash that would come with it’, wrote @DapperSteve.
‘Disappointing from Cillian tbh expected better from him’, added @walyacup.
@kaplans616 echoed: ‘well this is just… a huge bummer isn’t it’.
Although some were keen on the idea, with @BushiSays declaring the 49-year-old Irish actor a ‘darker, scarier, and somehow even more stylish’, choice.
The development is undoubtedly confusing, given how Cillian seemed to rule himself out of the Voldemort role just last September, saying it would be ‘really hard’ to follow in ‘acting legend’ Ralph’s footsteps.
Still, there’s no denying that anyone who has taken parts in the TV adaptation has come under fire.
JK Rowling, the author of the original Harry Potter book series, aka the best-selling book series in history, has publicly made anti-trans comments in recent years.
The likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson – who rose to fame as child stars in the lead parts – have publicly condemned her remarks and voiced support for the trans community, prompting the writer to make jibes at them in return.
Longtime Harry Potter fans continue to express disdain for her and those who tie themselves to her by accepting roles in future adaptations, such as the Audible book series, which will feature the likes of Keira Knightley and Bill Nighy.
Rowling is serving as an executive producer on the HBO series.
So far, confirmed cast members include Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer is Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu will be Severus Snape, and Nick Frost shall play Rubeus Hagrid.
As for the villainous Voldemort, it was previously reported that Matthew Macfadyen was the bookies’ favourite, but it later emerged that he will voice Harry’s archenemy in the audiobook versions.
Last August, former Doctor Who star Matt Smith and Marvel alum Paul Bettany were also tipped for the antagonist role, while Cillian’s odds sat at 4/1.
His name entered the race after Ralph gave him his blessing, having never made a secret of his admiration for Oppenheimer lead.
During an interview on Watch What Happens Live, he once said: ‘Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah.’
Although we could still be in for a surprise, as Tilda Swinton was being circled to portray a female Voldemort last autumn.
Development on the series was revealed to have begun in January 2021, with production planned to span across a decade.
A final release date is yet to be confirmed, but the first season will consist of eight episodes and is due to land on HBO in the United States in early or mid-2027.
Reps for Cillian Murphy have been contacted for comment.
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