A new rumor about Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV show would be a very controversial choice for the remake. HBO’s small-screen adaptation has already cast a lot of major roles for Season 1, but the series’ biggest villain has not yet been confirmed. Strictly speaking, there’s no need for an actor to be announced until it approaches the fourth season. After all, it wasn’t until The Goblet of Fire that Ralph Fiennes made his debut in the Harry Potter movies. However, the remake might be taking a different approach.
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There has been talk for some time now that the remake’s Voldemort actor would appear at the end of Season 1, as part of the scene where Harry and Professor Quirrell fight for the philosopher’s stone. Since his face does appear, then it could have the actor in place, and might even be able to utilize them for other scenes, such as flashbacks, before the Dark Lord’s full return to power (and body).
Now, a rumor from @DanielRPK [via X] states that HBO is auditioning both men and women for the role. It’s worth acknowledging that he has a mixed track record, and this, like any rumor, needs to be taken with a huge pinch of salt, but it’s also one that’s interesting to think about and certain to provoke some strong opinions.
Could A Female Lord Voldemort Work?
Whenever gender-swapping of iconic characters comes up, there’s often a tendency from some sections of a fanbase to immediately bristle and shut it down with knee-jerk reactions, whether that’s James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, or, in this case, Lord Voldemort. Some takes will inevitably be in bad faith, but there are valid reasons both for and against the idea of a woman taking on the part of the Harry Potter franchise’s biggest villain.
In the “for” camp, HBO should cast the best person for the part. If an actress comes in and blows everyone away with their take on Voldemort, then why not give them the role? The Harry Potter remake should be looking to do some things differently, especially from the movies. And yes, that requires being faithful to the books in some places, but much of the character’s plot could be kept in place, while also adding some new twists that make it fresh even for book readers. It would make for new power dynamics that also challenge conventions of the fantasy genre, where such all-powerful, all-evil villains are predominantly male.
At the same time, a female Voldemort would require changing some fundamental aspects of the character. His turn to the dark side, rise to power, and rivalry with Harry are all tied to him specifically being an orphan boy (with him and Harry mirrors of one another). That’s also true for his belief in being the heir of Slytherin, while his story with the Gaunts and his Muggle father also feels more thematically rich and meaningful to his arc if he’s male. None of that is impossible to change, though the name would need some work, but is it really necessary? They could alternatively go down the route of casting a woman but not changing the character’s gender, since after his return, he could be more androgynous-looking in a new body, but that feels like an approach that risks pleasing no one.
The Harry Potter remake casting a woman as Lord (or Lady) Voldemort would undoubtedly spark a major backlash, when there’s already controversy working against it. But, again, that shouldn’t stop HBO if they do indeed find an actress who is best for the role, and what will matter most is the performance and writing. Ultimately, of course, this may create fuss over nothing. I do think it’s most likely that Voldemort is played by a man, and that HBO probably already has an actor or two in mind, rather than lots of auditionees. But whether it’s Cillian Murphy, Tilda Swinton, or someone completely different, hopefully we’ll get an actor who can not only match what Fiennes did, but bring something new to the role as well.
Harry Potter’s TV remake is currently in production and planned for release on HBO and HBO Max in 2027.
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