'SHIP HAS SAILED' FOR RALPH FIENNES TO RETURN AS VOLDEMORT SO HE SUGGESTS 'FANTASTIC' LONDON ACTOR
Ralph Fiennes thinks the "ship has sailed" on him returning to play villain Lord Voldemort in the new Harry Potter TV series which starts this Christmas. The 63-year-old, who played Harry's nemesis in five films from 2005 to 2011, said he had initially been keen to reprise the role but has heard nothing from the team behind the franchise.
He appears on tonight's episode of the BBC's The Claudia Winkleman Show, where he says: "I remember being asked the question would I reprise the part? This was some years ago. And I said, 'yes, I'd love to.' But then, nothing's happened. I think that ship has sailed.
"But I tell you, Tilda Swinton was mentioned somewhere as being a contender, and I think she would be amazing. She would be fantastic."
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Swinton and Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy are among those rumoured to be taking on the role in the TV adaption for HBO. Swinton, who was born in London, is beloved for her physically transformative performances of eccentric and enigmatic characters.
Earlier this year Fiennes even appeared to suggest Irish actor Murphy, 49, had been booked for the role. In a viral TikTok clip shared by Let’s Talk Film back in January, Fiennes said: “I'm told [my shoes] are already filled, aren't they? I think Cillian Murphy is very good. A very good choice.”
So for now it remains a mystery who will play “He who must not be named” in the TV series. Casey Bloys, the head of HBO, confirmed recently to trade publication Variety that they had not yet cast an actor to play Voldemort.
However, in a recent interview with The Times, Murphy denied that he was set to play the character. “I’m categorically not,” he said. “Can you make that the headline?”
The adaption will see Warwick Davis return to Hogwarts as Professor Filius Flitwick, while Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout who will play Hermione, Harry and Ron respectively.
The trio of main characters were initially played by Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) in the original film series, based on the books by JK Rowling, which spanned eight movies.
Fiennes's comments come after actor Tom Felton reprised his role as one of the films' other villains Draco Malfoy for the first time in 14 years for the Broadway production of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at New York's Lyric Theatre, which is running until May 10.
The first season of the TV version will hit screens this Christmas on HBO Max, adapted from Rowling's first novel, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone.
The Claudia Winkleman show airs at 10.40pm on Friday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
2026-04-10T10:00:23Z
