Credit: Warner Bros.HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, which is set to premiere this December, already boasts an extensive cast that includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, all of whom appear in the trailer for the first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. But there’s one character who’s missing.
Who’s Playing Lord Voldemort in HBO’s Harry Potter?
Lord Voldemort, also known as Tom Riddle, doesn’t appear in the trailer for the new series. This is hardly surprising given the fact he doesn’t fully appear in Philosopher’s Stone anyway.
The dark lord’s debut in Harry Potter comes via Professor Quirinus Quirrell — played by Luke Thallon (Patriots) in the HBO reimagining — having attached himself to the back of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher’s head as a result of his weakened state.
Earlier this year, per Collider, while promoting HBO Max’s UK launch, HBO and HBO Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys was asked if they had cast Voldemort yet, to which he replied, “No, we have not,” adding, “As a rule, I would say any rumors – don’t [believe them]. I don’t even know who we’re casting. I really don’t! I would take everything you read with a grain of salt.”
Bloys’ comments likely include the rumors that Warner Bros. has also been auditioning women for the role of Voldemort. Actors such as Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) and Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) have been floated as possible contenders in recent months, however, neither HBO nor Warner Bros. have commented on these reports.
Still, these rumors have caused backlash from fans convinced HBO’s reimagining will be “woke.”
Related:Â Has HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Cast a Female Voldemort? Here’s Everything We Know
Another Voldemort Actor Has Been Cast
Per Movie Web, Captain America: Civil War (2016) actor Daniel Brühl will voice Lord Voldemort in the German-language edition of Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions.
The announcement comes from Pottermore Publishing and Audible, whose full-cast audio editions project has already turned J.K. Rowling’s original books into large-scale productions.
The English-language edition, which launched in November last year, stars Matthew Macfadyen (Deadpool & Wolverine) as Voldemort and even features the HBO series’ Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger across Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Prisoner of Azkaban.
For now, it remains to be seen who will play Voldemort in live action following Ralph Fiennes‘ performance in the Harry Potter films.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
HBO’s Harry Potter 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.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on HBO on Christmas 2026.
The German-language edition of Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions will launch on November 10, 2026. For more information on casting, visit Pottermore Publishing.
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