HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter television series could feature a significant departure from the established franchise, with reports emerging suggesting the production is considering actresses alongside actors for the role of the Dark Lord.
Industry insider Daniel Richtman first made the claims on X, stating that auditions for Voldemort include both male and female performers, raising the possibility of a gender-swapped interpretation of the franchise's primary antagonist.
The claim indicates that Warner Bros might be exploring a female iteration of the character originally portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in the film adaptations.
Whilst the studio has not confirmed the reports, the suggestion alone has ignited considerable debate amongst the fanbase, which was already at loggerheads over some of the casting decisions previously made.
Voldemort was played by Ralph Fiennes in the big-screen movies
|WARNER BROS
Reacting to X fan account Harry Potter News, one social media user raged: "At this point, it seems like they're just trying to sabotage their own show. I don't know why, but that's just the vibe I'm getting."
"Woke is not dead," a second mocked before a third claimed: "No. Just no. They’ve messed up Snape; this is just nonsense."
A fourth urged: "If they can't respect the source material like they allegedly promised, then why not just leave the Harry Potter franchise alone and create their own original fantasy series? Voldemort was a man. He was once known as Tom Riddle."
And a fifth agreed: "Please don't. There's already a source material with the vision of the author; why disrupt it unnecessarily in the name of creativity? If makers want to show a strong female antagonist, there are many characters in the series."
Ralph Fiennes took on the role of Lord Voldemort throughout the films
|PA
"Why in the world would they do that? I hope that’s not true," a sixth pleaded.
Earlier speculation had linked Cillian Murphy to the role, with Mr Fiennes himself endorsing the Oppenheimer star as a "fantastic actor" during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live.
However, Mr Murphy dismissed the rumours in a recent interview, stating: "I don't know anything about that."
The Irish actor added: "Also, it's really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does. The man is an absolute acting legend."
They’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the Harry Potter series! pic.twitter.com/3Wbr7DsrWY
— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) September 21, 2025
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Paapa Essiedu's casting as Snape remains another contentious issue for Harry Potter fans
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The HBO adaptation, scheduled for release in 2027, has already commenced production with most of the main cast already announced.
Dominic McLaughlin will portray Harry Potter, with Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Adult roles include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Hagrid.
This isn't the first time the HBO adaptation has faced its fair share of scrutiny, either. Mr Essiedu's casting as Alan Rickman's successor in the role of Snape remains a contentious topic to this day.
Voldemort could be portrayed by a woman in HBO’s Harry Potter series, according to Daniel Richtman. 😱
— Harry Potter News (@HPMoviesNews) September 22, 2025
“They’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the Harry Potter series!” pic.twitter.com/jpZHALJTJA
Some fans have accused the series of "race-swapping" with the decision and veering away from the pledge to be faithful to author JK Rowling's books.
In the novels, Ms Rowling described Snape as having a "hooked nose with sallow skin".
Warner Bros has previously emphasised the series would offer a more comprehensive adaptation of Rowling's seven novels, with each season dedicated to a single book.
The production began filming in July, though the studio has yet to announce who will portray the franchise's most notorious villain.