'Harry Potter' TV Series' Female Voldemort May Have Already Been Cast

Filming on the first season of HBO’s Harry Potter reboot is underway. Dozens of actors have been cast in what is described as a “faithful adaptation” of the books by J.K. Rowling.

The cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter. That’s just a handful who have been named.

As for the role of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, an actor has yet to be revealed. In the films, the character was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, but the next star to don that cloak might not be male.

Last month, according to trusted industry scooper Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com), the reboot is auditioning both men and women for the role of Lord Voldemort, otherwise known as Tom Riddle.

“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,” Richtman wrote.

Related: New ‘Harry Potter’ Series Finds Its Lord Voldemort

Unsurprisingly, the rumor spread like wildfire, rocking the wizarding world fanbase to its core. Comments lit up social media (namely X/Twitter) like sparkling wands. The consensus? Anger and laughter.

Horrifying AI-generated images fan-casting actresses like Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) and Tilda Swinton (2005’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) enough to evoke lifelong nightmares also flooded the comment sections.

While there’s been no word from HBO or Warner Bros. on the rumor, it’s entirely possible that it’s true. Not only that, but a female Voldemort may have already been cast, especially seeing as the dark lord is expected to make an appearance in Harry Potter Season 1 — on the back of Professor Quirrell’s head and in inevitable flashback sequences in which the Boy Who Lived’s parents are killed.

The Harry Potter TV series is written and executive-produced by showrunner Francesca Gardiner (HBO’s Succession, His Dark Materials, Killing Eve). J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films are also onboard as executive producers. Mark Mylod (Succession, Game of Thrones, The Last of Us) will executive-produce and direct multiple episodes.

Season 1 will premiere on HBO in 2027.

Would you like to see a female Lord Voldemort, or do you think the idea is riddikulus? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!