HBO has unleashed a wave of casting announcements for the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series. However, the identity of one key character is set to remain hidden.
It's been reported that the production house has now cast the role of Voldemort, but is refusing to release who bagged the prized villain's role until the show airs.
The adaptation is being led by 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, who has been cast as Harry Potter, supported by Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alistair Stout as Ron Weasley.
HBO has also been teasing details for other supporting roles, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall.
Now, Gambling.com has released odds on who is most likely to take over the role of Voldemort from the original actor, 62-year-old Ralph Fiennes.
They price Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy at 11/10 odds to play the super villain, equating to a 52.4 percent chance.
The bookmakers also speculate Tom Hiddleston is in with a chance at 6/4 odds, Matt Smith with 5/2, and a surprise bet at 3/1 for a reprisal from Fiennes.
The list also includes Doctor Who actors David Tennant and Matt Smith, and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch.
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|Cillian Murphy has been tipped to play the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV series
The rumours triggered a frenzy of excitement online, with fans piling in on who they want to reprise the role.
"Did they cast Cillian Murphy as Voldemort!? Folks I will LOSE IT," one fan said on X, another added: "Cillian Murphy considered for Voldemort - there couldn't be a more perfect casting in the history of adaptations." (sic)
According to Deadline, A Warner Bros TV boss was asked if a fan-cast of Cillian Murphy could become a reality for the HBO TV adaptation.
“I have no comment, no comment, no comment," they cryptically replied.
Warner Bros
|Ralph Fiennes played Voldemort in the film franchise
Even Fiennes endorsed the Oppenheimer actor when rumours initially circulated back in Spring.
In an interview on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, the actor said: “Cillian is a fantastic actor...
“That’s a wonderful suggestion", he said in response to the rumours. "I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah.”
He also expressed his excitement towards the adaptation, saying: "I'm very excited to watch as an audience member".
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The show has already attracted large amounts of controversy, in particular due to the announcement that Matilda star Stanton will be playing Hermione following Watson's stint in the role.
There were also disgruntled reactions among some of the fandom following the news that Essiedu will play Severus Snape.
While the series has been billed as a "faithful adaptation" of Rowling's books, some critics claim Stanton and Essiedu's appointments veer too far from the characters' original depictions in the books.
However, there has been a more positive response to the news that McTeer has been cast as Minerva McGonagall, and Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore.
REUTERS | Cillian Murphy won an Oscar for his role in Oppenheimer
The show will stream exclusively on HBO Max globally, with plans to adapt all seven Harry Potter books across multiple seasons, with each book making up an entire season.
Seasons one and two will be filmed consecutively, both comprising of six episodes.
It's expected to be in production for 10 years, concluding in 2035.