By With the cast roster swelling for Harry Potter’s upcoming television voyage, one ironic tip links Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy to a part he technically shouldn’t yet touch: Lord Voldemort. From the moment HBO confirmed its small-screen saga, supporters championed the Oppenheimer lead as the heir to the serpentine villain determined to finish Hogwarts’ star pupil (newcomer Dominic McLaughlin). Murphy has now shut the chatter down and delivered a firm explanation for his refusal.
Chatting on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor admitted he’s spotted the buzz surrounding the Boy-Who-Lived reboot but insisted the trail ends there. “No, my kids show me it occasionally, but no, I don’t know anything about that,” he clarified. Judging by his tone, the Peaky Blinders frontman can’t picture himself stepping into the part, largely because of the towering shadow left by the performer who already defined it. “I mean, 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.”
While Murphy seems wary of slipping into Fiennes’ now-iconic cloak, the inaugural Dark Lord himself offered a thumbs-up to the idea. Chris Columbus, who helmed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, likewise endorsed the notion: “Well, Cillian is one of my favourite actors, so that would be amazing.”
For now, the reboot’s version of Voldemort remains unassigned—a logical vacancy, considering the villain barely materializes in corporeal form during the opening novel that will fuel season one. Viewers have a lengthy hold ahead anyway, as the reimagined Harry Potter isn’t scheduled to hit television screens until 2027. While you wait, peruse our ranked list of the classic Harry Potter films here.