HBO’s Harry Potter series is moving full steam ahead, with filming well underway. The show will span seven seasons, one for each book, covering the entire story over a planned 10-year timeline. Several actors have joined the project, including John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), Paul Whitehouse (Argus Filch), Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape), Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley), Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger), and Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter).
While most of the major roles are filled, the identity of Tom Riddle, AKA Lord Voldemort, who was played in the Harry Potter film series by Ralph Fiennes, has yet to be announced.
But rumors suggest the casting could take an unexpected turn. According to Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com), “For the Harry Potter show, they’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort, so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the series.”
The news has already prompted a mix of outrage, humor, and debate online. On X (formerly Twitter), fans have reacted in varied ways.
One sarcastically noted, “Still not worse than what they did to Snape,” referring to the casting of Black actor Paapa Essiedu in the role originally played by Alan Rickman.
Another user weighed in with a broader critique, tweeting, “The morphing of @jk_rowling into Lord Voldemort is now complete,” adding, “Some irony, no — the trans-hating author goes from evil female to manosphere sorcerer just like that.”
Some, however, have taken a much lighter approach, with AI-generated images showing potential candidates for the role, including the likes of Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black), and Cynthia Erivo, with Erivo receiving the most attention after her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked (2025).
Whether any of these names will actually take the role remains unknown.
Francesca Gardiner is the showrunner for the upcoming Harry Potter series, with executive producers J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman overseeing the production. Mark Mylod will direct multiple episodes.
Season 1 is slated to debut in 2027 on HBO and HBO Max. Until then, conversations surrounding Lord Voldemort’s casting is likely to continue, making the series’ premiere one of the most anticipated—and discussed—moments in wizarding world history.
Would you like to see a female Lord Voldemort, or do you think the idea is riddikulus? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
If they cast a woman as lord Voldemort, I’m done with Disney cancel my subscription to Disney +, was bad enough when they cross races with it really looks like there really traveling down the Snow-White Road again. didn’t they learn anything or are the heads of Disney Corporation that ignorant to what their fan base wants to see.