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Credit: Warner Bros.HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series has already cast dozens of actors. John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter are just a handful of the newcomers.
For the most part, Potterheads seem pleased with the lineup. Not only do almost all the actors look like their witch/wizard counterparts, but set photos and official reveals show some of them in their complete garb, which seems pretty faithful to J.K. Rowling’s books.
One Casting Has Already Caused Controversy
However, though we haven’t seen any images of Essiedu’s Snape yet, many fans aren’t happy that an actor of color has been cast as the character, who was played by Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter films. In the books, Snape is described as having a “large, hooked nose” and “sallow skin”. While his ethnicity is never revealed, it’s obvious from Rickman’s casting — along with early sketches revealed by Rowling — that Snape is originally a White character.
In response to the “race-swapping”, fans have accused Warner Bros. of being “woke”. Before production got underway, it was reported that the studio was making a “concerted effort” to diversify the cast. They also promised that the series will be a more “faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s books than the films, a statement many fans feel is at odds with Essiedu’s casting.
But those who aren’t pleased about it are advised to continue reading with caution, because according to a new rumor, another major wizarding world character — one of the biggest of them all, in fact — could be getting “gender-swapped”.
HBO Is Reportedly Auditioning Female Actors To Play Voldemort
Lord Voldemort (real name Tom Marvolo Riddle), the main villain of the Harry Potter franchise who was played in the films by Ralph Fiennes (No Time to Die, 28 Years Later), could be played by a female actor in the upcoming television series.
According to trusted entertainment industry scooper Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com), “For the Harry Potter show, they’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort, so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the series.”
Several big names have been thrown around since the series was announced, including Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki). However, Murphy recently took his name out of the running, telling the Happy Sad Confused that “it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does”, adding, “Good luck to whoever is going to fill those shoes.” No female actors have been fan-cast yet — but, of course, that’s likely to change now.
When Will We See the New Voldemort in HBO’s Harry Potter?
As for when we’ll see the new Lord Voldemort actor on screen for the first time also remains to be seen. Earlier this year, a source told Rednian Intelligence that an actor had reportedly already been cast but that their identity would be kept a secret until the show airs in 2027.
It’s worth noting that, in the films, Fiennes’ Voldemort didn’t show up until Goblet of Fire; although the character himself first appeared in Sorcerer’s Stone. However, the reboot is expected to introduce the Voldemort actor in its first season, which will be based on Sorcerer’s Stone. As such, we’re likely to see them appear in flashbacks (when Voldemort kills Harry’s parents) and on the back of Professor Quirrell’s head during the final battle.
So, will fans soon be referring to the iconic wizarding world villain as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Only time will tell. But if the latter proves to be the case, we can’t help but consider the irony given Rowling’s views on the trans community.
The author is onboard as an executive producer on the series; however, she does not have any say on casting. In response to fans calling for the firing of Severus Snape actor Paapa Essiedu earlier this year after he signed an open letter condemning the U.K. Supreme Court ruling — an outcome Rowling famously celebrated — she took to X (Twitter) to explain:
“I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine. pic.twitter.com/nKcAl3gcvO
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 5, 2025
The new Harry Potter series will premiere in 2027 on HBO and HBO Max.
Would you like to see a female Lord Voldemort? Let us know what you think in the comments down below!