AceShowbiz - Ralph Fiennes, famed for his role as Voldemort in the Harry Potter film franchise, recently shared his thoughts on who should portray the dark wizard in HBO’s upcoming series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

During an appearance on BBC’s The Claudia Winkleman Show, Fiennes was asked about the casting of Lord Voldemort, a role that remains unfilled for the new adaptation. Reflecting on his own involvement, he recalled being asked years ago if he would reprise the part, to which he responded affirmatively. However, he acknowledged that since no progress was made at that time, the opportunity had likely passed.

Interestingly, Fiennes revealed that Tilda Swinton had been mentioned as a potential contender for the iconic villain’s role. He expressed enthusiasm about the idea, stating she would be “amazing” in the part. Swinton is widely respected for her versatile acting career, including her Oscar-winning performance in Michael Clayton and notable roles such as the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia. Her filmography also includes Suspiria, Snowpiercer, and We Need to Talk About Kevin, among others.

Fiennes portrayed Voldemort in five out of the eight original Harry Potter films starring Daniel Radcliffe. His performance remains a defining aspect of the series’ cinematic legacy.

Meanwhile, rumors circulated about Cillian Murphy potentially stepping into the role for the HBO series. However, Murphy addressed these speculations during an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, denying any involvement. He praised Fiennes as an “absolute acting legend” and wished luck to whoever would eventually take on the challenge of playing Voldemort.

The HBO adaptation will feature a fresh cast including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.

This new series is a reimagining of J.K. Rowling’s beloved seven-book saga and the Warner Bros. film franchise. Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on Succession, is serving as showrunner, while Mark Mylod, who directed episodes of Game of Thrones, will helm several episodes. The show is slated to premiere on HBO and stream exclusively on HBO Max during Christmas 2026.