Who will play Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter TV series? The 7 top contenders-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

Who will follow in Ralph Fiennes’ footsteps? (Picture: Warner Brothers Intl Television)

Ever since it was announced that a Harry Potter TV reboot is in the works, people have been wondering which actors – either famous or currently unknown – will be joining the cast.

The upcoming HBO adaptation has received a mixed response from fans, with some vowing to boycott the show completely due to JK Rowling’s views on the trans community, which have sparked backlash.

Others have expressed their excitement about the latest developments, as speculation about who will be chosen to play iconic characters including Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore continues to build.

Several actors played Lord Voldemort, aka Tom Riddle, at different stages of his life in the film franchise.

However, the most notable of them all was Ralph Fiennes, who looked completely unrecognisable as the spine-chilling He Who Must Not Be Named.

Looking ahead to the future TV show, plenty of fans want Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy to be the next actor to follow in Ralph’s footsteps, but there are also a number of strong contenders who could be worth considering.

7 top contenders to play Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV series

Cillian Murphy

Many people have been backing Cillian for the role (Picture: Jerod Harris/FilmMagic)

It’s safe to say that the top contender currently being discussed to play Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV reboot is Oscar-winning actor Cillian.

The Peaky Blinders star’s ability to transform into terrifying characters and his piercing blue-eyed stare are just a couple of the reasons why fans think he’d be an ideal choice for the powerful villain.

On Reddit, one user called the_cuddly_duckling emphasised Cillian’s ‘incredible range’, pointing out that the 48-year-old has played several villains in his career.

‘He absolutely transforms and embodies every character he plays. I would love to see him as Voldemort!’ they wrote.

Another user added that Cillian would ‘make a great Tom Riddle’, referencing Voldemort’s identity before he becomes the dreaded He Who Must Not Be Named and undergoes a serpentine, physical transformation.

In 2005, he delivered a chilling performance as the Scarecrow in Batman Begins, a strong indicator of how menacing his portrayal of Voldemort could be.

Ralph Fiennes

Could Ralph end up playing the character all over again? (Picture: John Nacion/Getty Images)

Even though Ralph has already played Voldemort on the big screen, starring as the antagonist from 2005 until 2011, some fans would be up for the idea of him reprising the role yet again for the TV reboot.

A couple of years ago, the 61-year-old even admitted that he’d be open to the idea of donning the bald cap once more.

While being interviewed by Variety on the red carpet for the premiere of his film The Menu, he was asked if he would want to play Voldemort again, to which he responded: ‘Sure, of course.’

Then when questioned if he would consider taking part in any future Harry Potter projects, he replied: ‘No question about it.’

Empire readers recently voted Voldemort within the top 10 best movie villains of all time, coming in ninth behind Hannibal Lecter, Hans Gruber and Darth Vader in the top spot.

Joseph Fiennes

If not Ralph, perhaps his brother Joseph would be up for it (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images For SOLT)

Speaking of an actor with the surname Fiennes… another well-known star who fans reckon could embody Voldemort brilliantly on screen is Joseph Fiennes, Ralph’s younger brother.

From 2017 to 2021, the 54-year-old gave a chilling performance as Commander Fred Waterford in the dystopian TV series the Handmaid’s Tale, while some of his other best-known credits include Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth and American Horror Story: Asylum.

‘Joseph Fiennes as Voldemort in HBO’s Harry Potter Tv series would be genius casting!’ X user @LevesqueT wrote. ‘Especially since his Brother Ralph was Voldemort in the movies.’

If Joseph were to play Voldemort, it wouldn’t be the first time that the character has stayed within the Fiennes family.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin – Ralph and Joseph’s nephew – also played a young version of Tom Riddle, when the character was 11 years old, in the 2009 film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Paul Bettany

Some think Paul Bettany would make a ‘horrifying’ Voldemort (Picture: Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images)

Paul Bettany certainly comes to mind when considering actors with a chameleonic quality.

The actor has starred in a variety of some of Hollywood’s biggest films, including A Knight’s Tale, The Da Vinci Code and Solo: A Stars Wars Story, playing the nefarious crime lord Dryden Vos.

‘I feel like Paul Bettany would be a horrifying Voldemort, but could also keep the calm and classy demeanor,’ Reddit user BatmanInTheSunlight theorised.

‘Ok Paul Bettany would be brilliant,’ WhoMD85 also added.

The 53-year-old’s turn as Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a masterful display of his versatility as an actor, playing an android created from an AI who falls in love with Elizabeth Olsen’s character, Wanda Maximoff.

Their TV spin-off series, WandaVision, has been hailed as one of the best releases in the MCU.

Christian Bale

Christian has proven time and time again how committed he is to his roles (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Just two years ago, Batman legend Christian Bale joined the MCU in Thor: Love and Thunder, playing a truly petrifying villain in a scene-stealing performance.

So, it might not be too far a stretch to imagine him playing the most evil wizard in history in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

‘I’m still set on Christian Bale being the perfect Voldemort,’ GrizzyIsland22 remarked on Reddit, while AlexanderTox highlighted how ‘committed’ the 50-year-old has proven himself to be in previous roles.

‘Dude Christian Bale was so good as that evil guy from the Thor movie I think he’d absolutely crush it,’ nerfherderparadise added.

Some of Christian’s most transformative roles have included starring as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, earning an Oscar nod for American Hustle and blowing audiences away in the 2010 biopic The Fighter.

Bill Skarsgård

Bill certainly knows how to horrify his audiences (Picture: Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)

Bill Skarsgård, who hails from the famous Skarsgård acting dynasty, has been lauded by fans for becoming a horror king, making his mark in movies including It and It Chapter Two as Pennywise, and also appearing in shows such as Hemlock Grove and Castle Rock.

So donning the robes of the Dark Lord could definitely be in his wheelhouse, some people have suggested.

Reddit user chucktaylor1988 wrote when discussing Voldemort casting possibilities: ‘Bill Skarsgard feels perfect honestly.

‘Handsome and charming like Tom Riddle undoubtedly was, but with a slight barely perceptible menace in there somewhere.’

Another user predicted that the 34-year-old could convey a ‘more psychotic Voldemort’ in the TV reboot, which they’d find ‘terrifyingly awesome’.

It director Andy Muschietti recently explained what prompted him to cast Bill as Pennywise, telling Esquire: ‘One second he can act all cute, and then the next, there’s something ancestral and dark that just appears. His ability to transform is mind-blowing to me.’

Hugo Weaving

Maybe Lord of the Rings and Matrix star Hugo will be considered (Picture: Naomi Rahim/WireImage)

Hugo Weaving already has one of cinema’s scariest villains under his belt, having depicted the sinister Agent Smith in the original Matrix trilogy from 1999 to 2003.

He’s used to appearing in film franchises of a spectacular scale, playing Elven Lord Elrond in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

‘Hugo Weaving would be good,’ Reddit user vivahermione wrote regarding if he could play Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV series.

‘Charming, but with a sinister edge. And that voice. Shudders.’

X user @themadkatter1 also mentioned another of the 64-year-old’s previous villainous roles, playing Steve Rogers’ adversary the Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger.

‘I could see him being Voldemort as well… He didn’t have a nose as the Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger and it worked for him,’ they said.

The Harry Potter TV reboot will be released by HBO.

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