Casting for HBO’s Harry Potter series is still unfolding, but the latest announcement rocked the fanbase as the new Harry, Ron, and Hermione actors were finally revealed.
Now, fans are busy dreaming their favorite actors into the series’ remaining roles. The latest name to grab attention? The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Tom Hiddleston (Loki), who’s now being talked about as a potential Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort.
Of course, Hiddleston is no stranger to villainy. He built an entire career on playing Loki in the MCU, evolving from sneering trickster to reluctant hero. So the idea of him stepping into the role of Tom Riddle—before and after the transformation into Voldemort—doesn’t feel like a stretch. Nothing has been confirmed or even remotely hinted at by HBO, but current betting odds have him as the top pick, according to Online Betting Guide.
But he’s not the only big name floating around to play the Dark Lord. Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) is the second favorite, especially after Ralph Fiennes—who played Voldemort in the original films—called him a worthy successor.
Fiennes himself is even in fourth place, sandwiched between Hiddleston’s fellow Marvel stars, Paul Bettany (Vision) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange).
Related: Is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Being Rebranded for the New HBO Series?
The biggest hurdle might be 44-year-old British actors’ profile. He’s among the most globally recognized name being speculated, and could easily eclipse the rest of the cast. That could be a problem for a series looking to build slowly across multiple seasons.
But if HBO does cast the beloved Marvel actor, don’t be surprised if the fandom dubs him “Tom Riddleston” within five minutes.
For now, the only confirmed cast members are Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter), Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley), and Arabella Stanton (Hermione), who will join Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape), John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), Luke Thallon (Quirinus Quirrell), and Paul Whitehouse (Argus Filch).
Francesca Gardiner (HBO’s Succession, His Dark Materials, Killing Eve) is the showrunner and an executive producer while Mark Mylod (Succession, Game of Thrones, The Last of Us) will also executive-produce and direct multiple episodes.
J.K. Rowling is also an executive producer, along with Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
Production is expected to start this summer.
Click here to find out everything there is to know about the new series.
Who would you like to see play Lord Voldemort in the new Harry Potter TV series? Let us know in the comments down below!
