Actor Ralph Fiennes, well known for his depiction of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, has expressed his support for Cillian Murphy to play the famous character in HBO’s upcoming television adaptation of the popular series. During an appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, Fiennes lauded Murphy as “a fantastic actor” and said he would be “all in favor” of the Oppenheimer star taking on the part of the dark wizard.
The highly anticipated HBO series, which premieres in 2026, promises to reinvent J.K. Rowling’s magical universe. HBO Programming President Casey Bloys says the show will be a “faithful” rendition of the original books. Each season will focus on one of Rowling’s seven novels, allowing the series to explore the themes and characters more deeply than the movies.
Fiennes’ endorsement is crucial, given his connection with the brand. He played Voldemort in four movies, starting with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005 and ending with the Deathly Hallows conclusion in 2011. His backing for Murphy lends credence to rumors concerning the casting of the series’ main adversary.
The project’s creative team includes some of the stars of HBO’s smash series Succession. Succession’s writer and producer Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Mark Mylod, a director on the renowned series, will direct many episodes of the Harry Potter remake. Additionally, Framestore, the visual effects studio that worked on the original films, is in talks to bring the magical universe to life for television.
While most casting decisions are kept private, reports say that Academy Award-winning actor Mark Rylance is being considered for the role of Albus Dumbledore. This supposition, paired with Fiennes’ support for Murphy, has fueled excitement among fans eager to see how the series will reimagine the wizarding world.
With a solid creative team and growing talk about prospective casting options, HBO’s Harry Potter series is already shaping to be a big deal for franchise fans.
