Harry Potter fans in shock as Ralph Fiennes seems to accidentally spoil who will be playing Voldemort in new series

Ralph Fiennes, the actor who'd played Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, may have just spoiled who will take on his iconic character for the upcoming HBO TV series.

Ever since it was announced that HBO was working on a Harry Potter series in 2023, with each season promising to be 'authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world', the anticipation as to who would be cast in the key roles has been rife.

Last year, the network confirmed that they'd found three actors to play the roles first made famous on the big screen by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, with Harry Potter himself being played by Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.⁠

Other cast announcements shortly followed, with Hot Fuzz's Nick Frost, Interstellar's Jon Lithgow, and I May Destroy You's Paapa Essiedu also announced to be joining the show.

While those iconic roles were confirmed last year, HBO has yet to reveal who will play the much-loved villain, Voldemort, in the TV series; however, Fiennes, who perfected the role across the Harry Potter film franchise, may have just let slip who might be taking on the role.

Ralph Fiennes may have just provided a hint as to who will play his famed character in the TV series (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

During a recent red carpet appearance, the Conclave star was asked who he'd like to 'fill his shoes', to which he responded: "Well, I'm told they're already filled, aren't they? I've already said I think Cillian Murphy is very good.

"A very, very good choice. I think they've cast it, haven't they? I don't know, I thought they had."

Fiennes had previously expressed his support for the Peaky Blinders' star possibly taking on the role, as he told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live in 2024: "Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah."

While neither HBO nor Murphy have made any official announcements, many Wizarding World fans were delighted at the idea of the 28 Days Later star getting a nod.

"If that is really true, I would be very pleased," one person penned on X, while a second added: "I wouldn’t be mad at this."

Meanwhile, a third said: "The best choice."

Could you see Cillian Murphy as Voldemort? (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The Oppenheimer star was asked on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast last September about potentially playing Voldemort - though he did seem to shut down the idea immediately.

"No," he immediately said. "My kids show me occasionally and I don’t know anything about that."

Murphy continued: "It’s really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does. He’s the man. An absolute acting legend. Good luck to whoever is going to fill those shoes."

Further casting announcements should be made in due course, with the HBO series expected to release in 2027.

UNILAD has contacted Murphy's representatives and HBO for comment.