Matt Smith is no stranger to big-budget blockbuster franchises, nor is he a stranger to villainous roles. However, despite recent rumors to the contrary, the actor is now outright stating that he will not be playing Voldemort in the upcoming Harry Potter HBO series.
While promoting his new film Caught Stealing, Smith was asked directly about this and clarified that he will not be playing Voldemort in the show. Seemingly surprised by the rumor, which made its rounds across social media this summer—alleging Smith and Cillian Murphy were both in the running for the role—Smith complimented the previous Voldemort before denying the question.
“I mean, could anyone play after Ralph [Fiennes]? He was so good,” Smith shared on TODAY.
“Hypothetically, who knows, but I think following in the footsteps of the great Ralph Fiennes is a very, very difficult mantle for someone. Good luck to whoever it is, but it ain’t gonna be me,” the House of the Dragon star added.
With filming now underway, there’s a great deal of curiosity surrounding the production of the new Harry Potter television series, which aims to be a "faithful adaptation" of the books.
It’s all but inevitable that this new project will be compared and contrasted with the films. As such, many of the new cast members find themselves in the unenviable position of having to engage in this form of competition with established works.
Among the confirmed adult cast for the new series are recognizable faces in Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.
The casting announcements have led many to question what would be done with the role of the arch antagonist of the entire series, Voldemort. From his introduction as the character in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Fiennes’s performance as He Who Shall Not Be Named was viewed as instantly iconic.
So how exactly is the new HBO series planning to follow up such a class act? The answer has been mired in secrecy on every front, with the series having allegedly cast the part but going to great lengths to preserve the secrecy of the reveal. This led to many fake rumors, including the latest around Smith's involvement.
Until Warner Bros. announces its next Voldemort, the internet will continue to theorize.
HBO’s Harry Potter show is due to be released in 2027.