Ralph Fiennes Shares His Pick for Voldemort in HBO's Harry Potter Reboot

English actor Ralph Fiennes has built a storied career over the years. But for a lot of people, the actor has become synonymous with the Harry Potter film series thanks to his fantastic portrayal of Lord Voldemort. So it's only natural that everyone would want to know Fiennes' pick for the highly coveted role, which has not been cast at this time.

During an appearance on BBC's The Claudia Winkleman Show, Fiennes shared his choice for Voldemort. "Tilda Swinton was mentioned somewhere as being a contender, and I think she would be amazing," he said via The Hollywood Reporter. The actor also addressed calls for him to reprise his role as the popular Harry Potter villain in the reboot series.

Fiennes Is Ready To Pass The Voldemort Torch

"I remember being asked the question, 'Would I reprise the part?' This was some years ago," Fiennes recalled. "And I said, 'Yes, I'd love to.' But then nothing's happened, and I think that ship has sailed." The news will come as a mild disappointment to fans hoping to see a familiar face in a series that is currently filled with franchise newcomers.

Fiennes made his debut as Lord Voldemort in 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where He Who Shall Not Be Named is first seen in his full form. It's also the moment the character stops feeling like a fantasy construct and starts reading as something colder and more calculated. Fiennes didn't go big with his portrayal. Instead, he opted for menacing precision, which is what made the character memorable.

So when he throws out Swinton as a possible successor, it feels like a note on direction since Swinton's whole screen presence is best described as slightly off-kilter, which is arguably closer to what Voldemort is supposed to be than the more theatrical versions we tend to imagine. But the tricky part is that Voldemort is one of those roles where the obvious choices are usually the least interesting.

Casting someone who already looks or feels like a villain is the easy way out. The better option is someone who can make you uneasy without saying much. Cillian Murphy can make silence feel loaded, or Ben Whishaw, who is known for sometimes taking quieter, more introspective roles. This is also why this Harry Potter reboot has a bit more pressure than it might seem.

Can HBO's Harry Potter Justify Its Return?

A decade-long adaptation means there's no way to rush past character beats or simplify some arcs for time. The first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is already set to run across eight episodes, which is more screen time than the entire first film had to work with. That extra space is where the series will either justify its existence or fall into the trap of feeling unnecessary.

HBO's Harry Potter series is being marketed as a more faithful adaptation of J. K. Rowling's books. While the idea sounds good in theory, it also means that fans (specifically the die-hards) will expect more than just accuracy. In terms of the story, the first season sticks close to familiar ground. It follows Harry's introduction to Hogwarts, his friendship with Ron and Hermione, and the realization that Voldemort's influence never really disappeared.

The central trio are played by Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The main cast is rounded out by John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Francesca Gardiner serves as showrunner, with Mark Mylod set to direct several episodes.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO Max on Dec, 25, 2026.