Ralph Fiennes Says He’s ‘All in Favor’ of Cillian Murphy Taking on Voldemort Role inHarry PotterSeries

Mar. 15, 2025

Cillian Murphy (left); Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage; Warner Bros./courtesy Everett

Samir Hussein/WireImage; Warner Bros./courtesy Everett

During a stop onWatch What Happens Liveon Monday, Dec. 2,Ralph Fiennes, who played the evil Voldemort in theHarry Potterfilms, was asked about rumors thatCillian Murphycould take over the role in HBO’s upcoming television series based onJ.K. Rowling’s novels.

“Cillian is a fantastic actor,” Fiennes, 61, said of the Oscar winner, 48. “That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah.”

TheConclaveactor joined theHarry Potterfranchise inHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire(2005). He also starred inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix(2007),Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(2009) and the two-part adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows(2010-2011). In November 2022, Fiennes said “of course” he would play Voldemort again if asked.

Ralph Fiennes in October 2024.Picture Happy/imageSPACE/Shutterstock

Picture Happy/imageSPACE/Shutterstock

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News that HBO and Warner Bros. planned to remake theHarry Potterseries as a television show wasfirst reported in April 2023. Francesca Gardiner is writing the series with Mark Mylod directing.

Casting for the projecthas not been announced.

Cillian Murphy in January 2024.Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

“J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings. It’s about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being,” Fiennes said, stressing that he can “understand a viewpoint that might be angry.”

“But it’s not some obscene, über-right-wing fascist,” he continued. “It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman and I feel I’m a woman and I want to be able to say that I’m a woman.’ And I understand where she’s coming from. Even though I’m not a woman.”

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Fiennes’ latest film,The Return, opens in theaters on Dec. 6. Murphy, who won an Oscar forOppenheimerearlier this year, is now filmingThe Immortal Man, a follow-up to the hit seriesPeaky Blinders.

source: people.com