The new Harry Potter series coming to HBO Max is rapidly filling out its cast for the first season and beyond, but several key characters from later in the books haven’t been cast yet. Most notably, the role of Tom Riddle, or Lord Voldemort – the main villain of the seven books – is still open. Previously portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in four of the Harry Potter films, Voldemort is now considered a legendary movie villain, driven by a desire for immortality and ultimate power.
There’s been a lot of speculation about who might be cast in the new HBO series, and many fans have suggested Cillian Murphy, known for his role in Oppenheimer. Recently, an actor who was rumored for the part publicly stated that he is not involved.
At the 2026 Saturn Awards in Los Angeles, Paul Bettany, a veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, responded to rumors suggesting he might play Voldemort in the upcoming Harry Potter reboot. He stated he hadn’t heard the rumors and hadn’t been contacted about the role, but expressed his enthusiasm for the Harry Potter franchise and HBO in general.
Honestly, I hadn’t heard a thing about it. I really love that franchise, and I’m a huge HBO supporter, but I haven’t received any calls or information about it myself. It’s a bit surprising, given how much I enjoy both!
Disney+
Back in early March, industry insider Daniel Richtman said that actor David Tennant was Warner Bros.’s top choice to play Voldemort in the new Harry Potter series on HBO Max. Although Voldemort doesn’t have a large role at the beginning of the books, he becomes a fully developed character towards the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the fourth book) and is a major figure throughout the rest of the series.
It’s no surprise Bettany is good at keeping secrets – he’s been a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for 18 years. He first became known as the voice of JARVIS in 2008’s Iron Man, and later transformed into the character Vision in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. He’s appeared in eight Marvel films and series so far, and will reprise his role as Vision in the upcoming VisionQuest series on Disney+ this year.
Though he’s best known for playing good guys, Paul Bettany has also taken on villainous roles. He played antagonists in films like The Da Vinci Code (2006) and Firewall (2006), and in 2018, he joined the Star Wars franchise as Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Vos was a powerful, almost-human alien and the public leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate, but his time in the film was brief.
Filming for the first season begins in July 2025, and we can expect to hear more about who’s been cast before the year is out. While it’s not yet confirmed, many fans are especially excited to find out who will play Voldemort.
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2026-03-10 00:32