The Wizarding World is returning to our screens, and with it comes the chance to reimagine one of the most feared villains in fantasy history. As HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation continues to film its first season, fans are buzzing with speculation over who could step into the shadowy, snake-eyed role of Lord Voldemort.
Much of the show's main cast has already been announced, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. It's been widely reported—but not confirmed—that Warner Bros. has cast its new Voldemort, but are keeping the news a secret. As we eagerly await that confirmation, here are a few actors who could do the iconic role justice.
Nicholas Hoult
Last year, we learned that Nicholas Hoult had auditioned for several roles in the original Harry Potter films, including the titular character himself. Now rumors are swirling that the British actor could step into Voldemort's shoes for the new show.
I don't hate this idea. Hoult is becoming a heavyweight in the nerd fandom world, having portrayed Beast in the X-Men films and Nux in Mad Max: Fury Road. Of course, Hoult knocked it out of the park as Lex Luthor in James Gunn's Superman earlier this year, proving that he can be an interesting and entertaining villain.
Like I said, I don't hate the idea, but I also tend to agree with some fans' thoughts that Hoult would be better utilized as someone like Gilderoy Lockhart or maybe even Barty Crouch Jr.
Cillian Murphy
Sometimes, the obvious choice is the correct one. I think this is the case with Cillian Murphy, who we've already seen is capable of handling virtually any acting job thrown his way—no matter how demanding—and make it look easy. He has the deadly gaze and eerie cadence to crush this role and take Voldemort to new heights.
One of the best examples of Murphy's ability to handle Voldemort is when he portrayed Dr. Jonathon Crane (The Scarecrow) in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins. He brought that subtle and cerebral creepiness that Voldemort exudes. There's a reason that Murphy has been fan-cast for this job for years at this point, so make it happen, HBO.
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Austin Butler
This one would be interesting. Austin Butler has exploded onto the acting scene in recent years, showing that he is capable of handling high-pressure roles like Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's biopic—for which he won a Golden Globe—and Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two.
The latter clearly conveyed Butler's chops in the sadistic villain department, something he already had a bit of experience with from his role as Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
While British actors have typically been the favorite for Harry Potter, HBO bucked that trend when they cast Lithgow as Dumbledore. Perhaps the other most powerful wizard will also go to an American actor. The main hiccup would likely be Butler's schedule, as he has several projects in the works, including an adaptation of City on Fire, a movie called American Speed alongside Tom Holland, and more.
The Harry Potter series is expected to premiere in 2027.