- Primary Subject: Whether or not the buzz about Cillian Murphy being the Harry Potter reboot's Voldemort is true.
- Key Update: Cillian Murphy has officially denied rumors that he will play Lord Voldemort, telling The Times he is "categorically not" involved.
- Status: Confirmed by the actor himself (Denial)
- Last Verified: March 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: Cillian Murphy is not playing Voldemort. He recently requested that his denial be the "headline", ending months of speculation fueled by predecessor Ralph Fiennes.
While Voldemort doesn't make his physical appearance in the books until The Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter fans are curious to know whether Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy is set to take the torch after Ralph Fiennes. Here's what the Irish actor said to address the ongoing speculation.
Could Cillian Murphy Join the Wizarding World? What the Batman Begins Star Said
The reboot Harry Potter series still has a long way to go before its official debut of a new slate and new faces on HBO and Max. However, with the Voldemort flashback due to appear in a flashback to the night he killed Harry's parents, fans are eager to uncover who they plan to replace the original with.
Ralph Fiennes, who worked with Murphy on 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, initially sparked rumors when he couldn't help but praise his co-star: "Cillian's amazing. He is one of the great screen actors around today. I am a huge admirer and fan of his, and I would love the opportunity to work with him."
Cillian Murphy is one of the highly anticipated castings, considering his wide range of performances, whether as a villain or a morally grey figure on the big screen. That said, could he actually join Hogwarts this time?
.webp?width=700&quality=10&blur=40)
In a recent interview with The Times (via SFFGazette), the Academy Award-winning actor set the record straight on his supposed opportunity to work on the set of Harry Potter: "I'm categorically not [playing Voldemort]. Can you make that the headline?"
One of the possible main reasons why Murphy didn't "make the cut" is the fact that the reboot is focusing on creating a world where no A-list celebrities are on the list. Frankly, to make the reboot weigh better for the timelessness they're going for, so it's not particularly surprising.
What the Harry Potter Reboot Has Hinted About the Dark Lord's Work
As previously reported, there is no word on who the reboot has picked to play the Dark Lord. At least, apart from the claim of reputable insider Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette): "They've already cast the voice actor for Voldemort in the Harry Potter series."
See, even though we did see Voldemort on the back of Professor Quirrell's head in the first film, who's to say the reboot plans on replicating the same scene the same way?
Apparently, they might be taking the Lady Whistledown route, in which the voice actor would not be the actual actor to grace the small screens as the overarching antagonist of the series.
The Harry Potter reboot series is currently slated to premiere on HBO and Max in early 2027. Stay tuned!
Keep it locked on EpicStream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!