Cillian Murphy as Voldemort? Fiennes Spills Harry Potter Secrets

Did Ralph Fiennes just spill one of Hollywood’s biggest secrets? The actor who terrified audiences for years as Lord Voldemort may have let it slip that Cillian Murphy has been cast as the new Dark Lord in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot.

During a red-carpet interview in January 2026, Fiennes was asked who he thought should replace him as Voldemort in the planned series. Instead of offering a vague answer, he hinted that the choice had already been made. “Well, I’m told they’re already filled, aren’t they?” he said. Fiennes then added, “I’ve already said I think Cillian Murphy is very good. Very good, very good choice. I think they’ve cast it, haven’t they?”

The comments sent fans into a frenzy. When reporters pressed him to clarify, Fiennes seemed to realize he might have said too much. He stumbled a bit, saying he only “thought they had,” before laughing and telling a journalist, “You caught me out.”

But here’s where it gets interesting. Just a few months earlier, Murphy himself denied all rumors linking him to the Hogwarts world. In late 2025, the Oppenheimer star said he had no connection to HBO’s Harry Potter project. He even called it “really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does,” praising the original performance while insisting he wasn’t part of the reboot.

Before that, we were hearing rumors that the production was even considering a female actress for the part.

So who’s telling the truth? Did Fiennes accidentally confirm the studio’s biggest casting secret, or was he just joking? HBO isn’t saying. The network has refused to comment on any Voldemort casting, even though reports say several other major roles are already locked in. The new Harry Potter series is expected to debut in 2027, but if Fiennes’ words are any indication, the face of evil at Hogwarts may already have a new name.

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